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In 1976 Foley moved onto the first rung of the leadership ladder when he was elected chairman of the Democratic caucus. In one of those "accidents" of his career, he was chosen as House whip soon after, when Tip O'Neill's first two choices were not available. As whip, Foley added to his formidable reputation as a coalition builder, which helped him win the majority leader post when Wright climbed to the Speaker's chair in 1987.
Foley's top aide is his wife of almost 21 years, Heather. She joined her husband's staff in 1971, two years after earning her law degree, and serves now as his unpaid administrative assistant. Washington consultant Ted Van Dyk, an old friend, says that Foley needs someone like Heather to run interference for him. "He suffers fools," says Van Dyk. "Not gladly, but he suffers them."
Though Foley is clearly a liberal, critics say his unyielding opposition to gun control is evidence that he panders to constituents. "Hell, no," argues Bill First, who was Foley's press secretary for many years. "He's progun." He is also pro-Congress, untiring in his defense of the institution and particularly the House, which he feels "is like the people, both good and bad -- just as it was intended to be." He accepts contributions from political- action committees; ranks high in honorariums received; favored the 51% pay raise for Congress, judges and top Administration officials; and can be blunt with hecklers.
One year when it appeared that he could be defeated, Foley's staff urged him to blunt Republican attacks on himself as a free-spending liberal by dropping his support of a costly health bill. He refused. Why? someone asked. It was the kind of answer rare in the annals of politics. "Because," Foley answered, "if there's one vote I want to get in this election, it's my own."