a group of business, civic, education, and other leaders interested in economic development in Washington, D.C. In 1997, Foley was appointed as the 25th U.S. Ambassador to Japan by President Bill Clinton, and was part of the US government response to the deaths of Japanese schoolchildren caused by a US submarine. He served as ambassador until 2001. Foley was a Washington delegate to the 2004 and 2012 Democratic National Conventions. On July 9, 2003, Governor Gary Locke awarded the Washington Medal of Merit, the state's highest honor, to Foley. He was North American Chairman of the Trilateral Commission. Death Foley died at his home in Washington, D.C. on October 18, 2013, following months of hospice care after suffering a series of strokes and a bout with pneumonia. He was 84 and was survived by his wife, Heather. Services were held at St. Aloysius Church at Gonzaga University, as well as in Washington, D.C. Speaker John Boehner, and Nancy Pelosi, who had also served as Speaker, issued statements honoring Foley. In a White House statement, President Barack Obama called Foley a "legend of the United States Congress" who "represented the people of Washington's 5th district with skill, dedication, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of those he was elected to serve.", going on to praise Foley for his bipartisanship and subsequent ambassadorial service under former President Clinton. Vice President Joe Biden also released an official statement, saying "Tom was a good friend and a dedicated public servant.", citing his work in Congress with Foley in the 1980s on budgetary issues. Washington Governor Jay Inslee also released a statement, acknowledging Foley's efforts to reach consensus and emphasize mutual common ground, and his work in the legal system and in Congress. Former President George H. W. Bush stated that Foley "represented the very best in public service--and our political system" and "never got personal or burned bridges." Honors Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (UK). Order of Merit (Germany). Légion d'honneur (France). Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, Grand Cordon (Japan), 1995. Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, Pullman. Established in 1995. Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway (U.S. Route 395), dedicated in 2018. Electoral history Congressional elections November 3, 1964: November 8, 1966: November 5, 1968: November 3, 1970: November 7, 1972: November 5, 1974: November 2,