Obama orders flags at half-staff for late House Speaker Tom Foley WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- President Obama ordered U.S. flags lowered to half-staff Tuesday to honor former House Speaker Tom Foley, who died this month. In his proclamation Monday, the president said flags at the White House, all public buildings and grounds in the United States and its territories, military and naval facilities, embassies and other U.S. facilities abroad are to be lowered "as a mark of respect for the memory of" Foley. Foley, who represented the state of Washington in the House from 1965 to 1995, died Oct. 18 at age 84. He became speaker in 1989. He later served as ambassador to Japan.