( CNN ) -- Former U.S. House Speaker Tom Foley died at his home in Washington , D.C. , his wife Heather confirmed Friday . Foley , 84 , was a Democrat who represented Washington state in the House for 30 years and served as speaker from 1989 to January 1995 . After his tenure on Capitol Hill , he was appointed U.S. ambassador to Japan by President Bill Clinton . He served from 1997 to 2001 . Foley became the 57th speaker in 1989 after then-Speaker James Wright resigned from office amid an ethics scandal . Before taking that post , Foley served as House majority leader , majority whip and Agriculture Committee chairman , and was an influential member of the Select House Committee on Iran Contra . He was first elected to the House in 1964 , beating incumbent Republican Walt Horan , a 27-year veteran of the House . Foley 's career in Congress ended when he was defeated in 1994 , the year Republicans retook the House in what is sometimes known as the `` Republican Revolution . '' He was succeeded as speaker by then-Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia . Current House Speaker John Boehner on Friday said Foley 's rise to speaker was a `` natural sequence for a natural leader . '' `` Forthright and warmhearted , Tom Foley endeared himself not only to the wheat farmers back home but also colleagues on both sides of the aisle , '' Boehner said in a written statement . `` That had a lot to do with his solid sense of fairness , which remains a model for any Speaker or representative . '' President Barack Obama said in a statement that Foley had a `` straightforward approach '' and represented his constituents with `` skill , dedication , and a deep commitment to improving the lives of those he was elected to serve . '' Former President George H.W . Bush said that Foley `` represented the very best in public service -- and our political system '' and `` never got personal or burned bridges . '' Foley had a largely liberal record in Congress , supporting Great Society programs and opposing the Vietnam War . He was pro-abortion rights , backed the Equal Rights Amendment and opposed capital punishment , as well as a constitutional amendment allowing school prayer . Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Foley had an `` unrivaled ability '' to build consensus and find common ground in the House . `` Our country mourns the loss of a leader whose authenticity , dedication , and diplomacy will forever serve as an example to all of us who strive to make a difference through public service , '' Pelosi said in a written statement . Foley graduated from the University of Washington in 1951 and from Washington Law School in 1957 . In his legal career , he served as assistant attorney general for Washington state and deputy prosecutor in Spokane County . Before running for Congress , Foley worked as a special counsel to the Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee from 1961 to 1964 . Foley is survived by his wife , Heather , whom he married in December 1968 . Rep. Bill Young , longest-serving GOP member in House , dies at age 82 . People we 've lost in 2013 .
NEW : Washington lauds Tom Foley 's ` ` skill , saying ' Foley was a Democrat who represented Washington state in the House for 30 years . After his tenure on Capitol Hill , he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Japan . Current House Speaker John Boehner described him as ` ` forthright and warmhearted ''