Tim Russert - Newsman and Moderator of "Meet the Press" dies at 58
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The Kentucky Wizard
Jun 17, 2008, 9:17:43 AM6/17/08
to Obituaries_online
Sat June 14, 2008
(CNN) -- Tim Russert, who became one of America's leading political
journalists as the host of NBC's "Meet the Press," died Friday, the
network said. He was 58. The network said the award-winning journalist
collapsed at work Friday. He was taken to Washington's Sibley Memorial
Hospital, where he died, the hospital confirmed.
Colleague and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw broke the news on the
network Friday shortly after 3:40 p.m.
Russert had just returned from a family vacation in Italy with his
wife, journalist Maureen Orth, and son, Luke, to celebrate his
graduation from Boston College, Brokaw said.
"I think I can invoke personal privilege and say this news division
will not be the same without his strong, clear voice," Brokaw said
Friday.
"He will be missed as he was loved -- greatly."
Friends and colleagues remembered Russert on Friday not only as one of
the country's most respected and influential political journalists,
but also as a friend, a devout Catholic and an avid sports fan,
especially when it came to his home team, the Buffalo Bills.
"I just loved the guy. He had this enthusiasm about all of the things
that life brings to you," said James Carville, who often attended
Washington National games with Russert. "My wife and I are in a
complete state of utter shock."
Russert was born May 7, 1950, in Buffalo, New York. His parents were
Timothy John Russert Sr., or "Big Russ," a newspaper truck driver and
sanitation worker, and Elizabeth Russert.
Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown ordered that all flags on city property
be lowered immediately to half-staff in Russert's honor.
He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and
the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the bar in
New York and the District of Columbia, according to a biography on
CNBC.com
Before joining NBC, Russert served as press secretary for former New
York Gov. Mario Cuomo and as chief of staff to Sen. Daniel Patrick
Moynihan.
Russert joined the network in 1984 and quickly established himself as
the face of the network's political coverage, eventually becoming
senior vice president and Washington bureau chief of NBC news.
His career at NBC was marked by a number of milestones. In 1985,
Russert supervised live broadcasts of the "Today" show from Rome,
Italy, negotiating an appearance by Pope John Paul II -- a first for
American television.
He was also the recipient of numerous awards for his work, including
an Emmy in 2005 for his coverage of the funeral of President Ronald
Reagan.
His rise to prominence coincided with his success as the best-selling
author of two books, 2004's "Big Russ and Me" and 2006's "Wisdom of
Our Fathers," which documented his journey from blue-collar beginnings
to law school to Washington powerhouse.
The memoirs, both of which were New York Times best sellers,
transformed the award-winning journalist into the son of Big Russ, a
Buffalo Bills fanatic, and finally, a husband and father.
"Tim was a true child of Buffalo and the blue-collar roots from which
he was raised," Brokaw said Friday. "For all his success, he was
always in touch with the ethos of that community."
Russert credited his upbringing with helping him keep his ego in check
as he became the man who interviewed presidents and important
politicians of the day. iReport.com: Send your memories of Russert
"If you come from Buffalo, everything else is easy. Walking backwards
to school, for a mile in the snow, grounds you for life," Russert told
the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz in 2004. "Plus, if you have a
family the way I do, it's a daily reality check."
Russert, who also served as a political analyst for cable network
MSNBC, took the helm of "Meet the Press" in 1991, turning the long-
running Sunday-morning interview program into the most-watched show of
its kind in the United States.
During his 17-year run as the host of "Meet the Press," the longest of
any host in the show's 60-year history, Russert earned the respect and
admiration of many journalists and politicians.
"He was an institution in both news and politics for more than two
decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-
informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off
the set as he was prepared on it," President Bush said Friday.
His professionalism earned him many accolades. The Washingtonian
Magazine once dubbed Russert the best and most influential journalist
in Washington, describing "Meet the Press" as "the most interesting
and important hour on television."
In 2008, TIME magazine named him one of the 100 most influential
people in the world.
Brokaw described Russert as a political junkie who threw himself into
his work during this year's presidential contest.
"This was one of the most important years of Tim's life for many
reasons," Brokaw said. "He loved this political campaign. He worked
himself to the point of exhaustion many weeks."
(CNN) -- Tim Russert, who became one of America's leading political
journalists as the host of NBC's "Meet the Press," died Friday, the
network said. He was 58. The network said the award-winning journalist
collapsed at work Friday. He was taken to Washington's Sibley Memorial
Hospital, where he died, the hospital confirmed.
Colleague and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw broke the news on the
network Friday shortly after 3:40 p.m.
Russert had just returned from a family vacation in Italy with his
wife, journalist Maureen Orth, and son, Luke, to celebrate his
graduation from Boston College, Brokaw said.
"I think I can invoke personal privilege and say this news division
will not be the same without his strong, clear voice," Brokaw said
Friday.
"He will be missed as he was loved -- greatly."
Friends and colleagues remembered Russert on Friday not only as one of
the country's most respected and influential political journalists,
but also as a friend, a devout Catholic and an avid sports fan,
especially when it came to his home team, the Buffalo Bills.
"I just loved the guy. He had this enthusiasm about all of the things
that life brings to you," said James Carville, who often attended
Washington National games with Russert. "My wife and I are in a
complete state of utter shock."
Russert was born May 7, 1950, in Buffalo, New York. His parents were
Timothy John Russert Sr., or "Big Russ," a newspaper truck driver and
sanitation worker, and Elizabeth Russert.
Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown ordered that all flags on city property
be lowered immediately to half-staff in Russert's honor.
He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and
the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the bar in
New York and the District of Columbia, according to a biography on
CNBC.com
Before joining NBC, Russert served as press secretary for former New
York Gov. Mario Cuomo and as chief of staff to Sen. Daniel Patrick
Moynihan.
Russert joined the network in 1984 and quickly established himself as
the face of the network's political coverage, eventually becoming
senior vice president and Washington bureau chief of NBC news.
His career at NBC was marked by a number of milestones. In 1985,
Russert supervised live broadcasts of the "Today" show from Rome,
Italy, negotiating an appearance by Pope John Paul II -- a first for
American television.
He was also the recipient of numerous awards for his work, including
an Emmy in 2005 for his coverage of the funeral of President Ronald
Reagan.
His rise to prominence coincided with his success as the best-selling
author of two books, 2004's "Big Russ and Me" and 2006's "Wisdom of
Our Fathers," which documented his journey from blue-collar beginnings
to law school to Washington powerhouse.
The memoirs, both of which were New York Times best sellers,
transformed the award-winning journalist into the son of Big Russ, a
Buffalo Bills fanatic, and finally, a husband and father.
"Tim was a true child of Buffalo and the blue-collar roots from which
he was raised," Brokaw said Friday. "For all his success, he was
always in touch with the ethos of that community."
Russert credited his upbringing with helping him keep his ego in check
as he became the man who interviewed presidents and important
politicians of the day. iReport.com: Send your memories of Russert
"If you come from Buffalo, everything else is easy. Walking backwards
to school, for a mile in the snow, grounds you for life," Russert told
the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz in 2004. "Plus, if you have a
family the way I do, it's a daily reality check."
Russert, who also served as a political analyst for cable network
MSNBC, took the helm of "Meet the Press" in 1991, turning the long-
running Sunday-morning interview program into the most-watched show of
its kind in the United States.
During his 17-year run as the host of "Meet the Press," the longest of
any host in the show's 60-year history, Russert earned the respect and
admiration of many journalists and politicians.
"He was an institution in both news and politics for more than two
decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-
informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off
the set as he was prepared on it," President Bush said Friday.
His professionalism earned him many accolades. The Washingtonian
Magazine once dubbed Russert the best and most influential journalist
in Washington, describing "Meet the Press" as "the most interesting
and important hour on television."
In 2008, TIME magazine named him one of the 100 most influential
people in the world.
Brokaw described Russert as a political junkie who threw himself into
his work during this year's presidential contest.
"This was one of the most important years of Tim's life for many
reasons," Brokaw said. "He loved this political campaign. He worked
himself to the point of exhaustion many weeks."
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