Foley's wife, Heather, confirmed the death of the Washington state Democrat.
Foley also served as US ambassador to Japan for four years during the Clinton administration. But he spent the most time in the House, serving 30 years including more than five as speaker.
He became the first a since the Civil War of the 1860s who failed to win re-election in his home district. Foley lost his seat in the "Republican Revolution" of 1994. The Democrat had never served a single day in the minority.