BREAKING NEWS
NBC News and MSNBC
updated 3 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday, NBC News said. He was 58.

No further 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.

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 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.

Russert 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 joining NBC News, Russert was counselor in the New York governor’s office in Albany in 1983 and 1984 and a special counsel in the U.S. Senate from 1977 to 1982.

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.

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.


What a loss. I always found him highly intelligent, highly articulate and an highly passionate man about politics. I will miss his insight. RIP.

Also being discussed here:

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=533559

Tim Russert died of a heart attack--they are breaking the news right now.

Wow, he was too young. I always liked watching him--seemed like a good guy.

I watch Meet The Press religiously every Sunday while ironing my clothes. He seemed genuinely excited to see what would happen with the Presidential elections. What shocking news considering he was a young 58.

One of the truly great journalists of the modern era. Such a loss. He will be missed.

Well said.

wow, sad news.I really liked Tim Russert. Watched Meet The Press Religiously. Had a season pass on Tivo and havent missed an episode in years. Always looked forward to his show.
a huge loss

I always liked Russert cause he was prepared for every politician, and didn't let them spin their way out of each question. He showed them old clips, old quotes, anything that they couldn't weasel out of, as most politicans are so great at doing. It is a shame most interviewers let these politicians off the hook with some phony answer, but Russert really did a great job at putting them on their toes.

I believe Russert changed the scope of politics when he was the moderator at a debate in October at Drexel University and pinned Hillary Clinton down on the Illegal Aliens in NY getting Licenses. She couldn't answer it, and couldn't weasel out after he pressed her and I believe she was never the same after that night, as many people believed that she was not the inevitable candidate for the democrats, and Obama started to gain ground.

Today on Meet The Press, they announced that Tom Brokaw has agreed to take over during the upcoming election season.

Smart, safe choice for now. I was hoping that would happen.

I was hoping for Chris Hanson. Oh well.

I figured he'd top the short list.

I'm surprised that there's no talk of or love for Chris Matthews taking over MTP. He seems like an obvious choice due to his interrogative interview style. Maybe he's a turn-off to too many people?

I like Matthews - but he's as much partisan blow-hard as he is hard hitting interviewer. He doesn't have the 'graviats' that Meet the Press would require.

Love him on Hardball though.

I say No to Chris Matthews. I like him, but he never fails to let his opinion and stand on the issues come through. That's what I loved about Russert, he did his homework on his interviewee and took the opposite stand. Made for riveting TV.

Actually, that's who I thought bwvanh114 was talking about. I just re-read his post and saw Chris HANSON!!! That must be a case of mistaken identity. Unless Meet the Press is going to turn into a circus show of pedophiles and tabloid news stories.

I am surprised as well they didn't give the job to Matthews. Next to Russert, he was the second one I relied on the most during the past election years.

And I understand the point of Chris' style..that is what you need on a show like Hardball. I say give him a chance to show that he can do what is needed on a show like Meet the Press. At least let him fill in for a couple episodes.

I really actually thought we'd see a few quest hosts before they announced a replacement.

Technically Tom Brokaw is the guest host until they announce a replacement after the election.