Ex-Foley Aide Closes Shop On 30-Year Alliance ‘A Dream Job,’ Says Woman Who Was His Administrative Assistant

Janet Gilpatrick sent more than a handful of co-workers on to bigger and better things.

They became lawyers, court clerks, political activists, but it was a bittersweet send-off Friday for Gilpatrick, Tom Foley’s longtime administrative assistant.

The former House speaker, working as a private lawyer since he lost his congressional seat in 1994, is now the U.S. ambassador to Japan.

On Friday, Gilpatrick closed the downtown Spokane office her boss maintained for more than 30 years.

With Foley already in Japan, Gilpatrick and an assistant spent their final moments chatting and taping up boxes.

“We had such a dream job working for Foley,” Gilpatrick said with tears in her eyes. “He is such a great man.”

During her 17 years with Foley, she said, “we met so many people.”

The list includes every president and vice president Foley served under, and she has memorabilia to prove it. While cleaning out desks the other day, Gilpatrick laughed at the discovery of “Bush/Foley” pins made for Bush’s visit to Spokane during the state centennial celebration in 1989.

The impact of Foley’s three-employee office on Spokane and Eastern Washington didn’t go unrecognized Friday.

Washington State University President Sam Smith made it a point to drop by the near-empty office to thank Gilpatrick for everything she had done. Foley and his staff were the first to welcome Smith when he arrived.

“You can’t leave,” Smith joked.

Over the years, thousands of people searching for help walked through the door.

“We often were their court of last resort,” Gilpatrick said. “When you could help them out, you really felt like you could make a difference.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: REASON FOR CLOSING Under federal law, the taxpayer-funded office of the former speaker had to close by the end of the year. Foley can’t maintain a U.S. office while serving as ambassador.