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2008-06-13 -Obits-
Tim Russert Dies From Apparent Heart Attack
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Posted by Steve White 2008-06-13 15:36|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1759 views ]  Top

1 More from NBC

Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after a sudden heart attack at the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58.

Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said. No details were immediately available.

Russert, the recipient of 48 honorary doctorates, took over the helm of “Meet the Press” in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, “Meet the Press” is the longest-running program in the history of television.

In 2008, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Timothy John Russert Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. 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.

Senate staffer before entering journalism
After graduating from law school, Russert went into politics as a staff operative. In 1976, he worked on the Senate campaign of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., and in 1982, he worked on Mario Cuomo’s campaign for governor of New York.

Russert joined NBC News in 1984. In April 1985, he supervised the live broadcasts of NBC's TODAY show from Rome, negotiating and arranging an appearance by Pope John Paul II, a first for American television. In 1986 and 1987, Russert led NBC News’ weeklong broadcasts from South America, Australia and China.

Of his background as a Democratic political operative, Russert said, “My views are not important.”

“Lawrence Spivak, who founded ‘Meet the Press,’ told me before he died that the job of the host is to learn as much as you can about your guest’s positions and take the other side,” he said in a 2007 interview with Time magazine. “And to do that in a persistent and civil way. And that’s what I try to do every Sunday.”

Cuomo, Russert’s onetime boss, wrote of Russert: “Most candidates are not eager to present themselves for Tim’s incisive scrutiny, which is fed by his prodigious study and preparation. But they have little choice: appearing on ‘Meet the Press’ is today as vital to a serious candidate as being properly registered to vote.”

Russert wrote two books — “Big Russ and Me” in 2004 and “Wisdom of Our Fathers” in 2006 — both of which were New York Times best-sellers.

Emmy for Reagan funeral coverage
In 2005, Russert was awarded an Emmy for his role in the coverage of the funeral of President Ronald Reagan. His “Meet the Press” interviews with George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000 won the Radio and Television Correspondents’ highest honor, the Joan S. Barone Award, and the Annenberg Center’s Walter Cronkite Award.

Russert’s March 2000 interview of Sen. John McCain shared the 2001 Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television Journalism. He was also the recipient of the John Peter Zenger Award, the American Legion Journalism Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Journalism Award, the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism, the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Communication and the Catholic Academy for Communication’s Gabriel Award. He was a member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.

Russert was a trustee of the Freedom Forum’s Newseum and a member of the board of directors of the Greater Washington Boys and Girls Club, and America’s Promise — Alliance for Youth.

In 1995, the National Father’s Day Committee named him “Father of the Year,” Parents magazine honored him as “Dream Dad” in 1998, and in 2001 the National Fatherhood Initiative also recognized him as Father of the Year.

Irish America magazine named him one of the top 100 Irish Americans in the country, and he was selected as a Fellow of the Commission of European Communities.

Russert is survived by his wife, Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine, and a son, Luke.

Check back soon for more on this breaking story.
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2008-06-13 15:47||   2008-06-13 15:47|| Front Page Top

2 He went to Canisius? A Catholic school boy, then. They had a separate school and sheltered workshop for mentally retarded, multiply handicapped, children and adults. My mother was their occupational therapist for over a decade of my childhood. They have a college in Buffalo, too -- a nice little school.
Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife  2008-06-13 15:58||   2008-06-13 15:58|| Front Page Top

3 Mr. Russert was the model for how journalists who are left-leaning in their personal views (as 85+% are) could nevertheless conduct themselves with professionalism and provide reasonable analysis.

Sadly, despite the paeans to Mr. Russert that we will hear few will make any effort to follow his example.
Posted by Gliling Lumplump3518 2008-06-13 16:32||   2008-06-13 16:32|| Front Page Top

4 His role in the Libby matter is perhaps the only off-kilter episode in his role as a national political journalist - a record which will likely be unmatched, particularly considering his prodigious accomplishments.
Posted by Harcourt Jush7795 2008-06-13 17:51||   2008-06-13 17:51|| Front Page Top

5 Perhaps the last honest journalist.
Posted by Glenmore 2008-06-13 18:15||   2008-06-13 18:15|| Front Page Top

6 He got where he was ONLY because he slanted left in his politics. A right-wing guy would never have seen the light of day at MTP. I'm sorry for his family but just because he's dead is no reason to forget he did a lot to make non-leftist candidates look bad.
Posted by Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 2008-06-13 18:56||   2008-06-13 18:56|| Front Page Top

7 Hmmm... perhaps Edward R Olbermann will finally get his just due


and by that "due" I mean daily severe beatings
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2008-06-13 20:20||   2008-06-13 20:20|| Front Page Top

8 You are the worst person in the world, Frank G. And I mean that in the best possible way. ;)
Posted by eLarson 2008-06-13 20:44||   2008-06-13 20:44|| Front Page Top

9 Thaible,
His redemption is that he ALSO made unprepared leftist candidates look bad too.
Posted by Glenmore 2008-06-13 21:27||   2008-06-13 21:27|| Front Page Top

10 touche, Elarson ;-)
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2008-06-13 22:20||   2008-06-13 22:20|| Front Page Top

23:17 Chaviter the Wicked aka Broadhead6
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