Tim Russert, one of the most well known, respected and influential reporters of our time, died suddenly Friday of a heart attack. Russert has known for his powerful and yet gentle way of questioning many of the most important people of our time. He was the moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” appeared on many other network shows, moderated many political debates, and wrote two best-selling books.
At this point it is unclear exactly why he died. It was originally stated that he suffered from a severe heart attack, but spokeswoman Jenny Tartikoff later said, “We do not know the cause yet.”
Although it is unknown how he died, many people around the world are already mourning his lose. NBC stopped it’s regular programming as Tom Brokaw, Andrea Mitchell and Brian Williams spoke about what a wonderful man he was and how their “hearts are broken.” One of the first people to respond was President Bush who immediately issues the following statement:
President Bush, informed of Russert’s death while at dinner in Paris, swiftly issued a statement of condolence that praised the NBC newsman as “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.”
Russert was a man of many accomplishments.
He was also a senior vice president at NBC, and this year, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.Russert had Buffalo’s blue-collar roots, a Jesuit education, a law degree and a Democratic pedigree that came from his turn as an aide to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Russert was “the best in the business at keeping his interview subjects honest.”
“There wasn’t a better interviewer in television,” Sen. Barack Obama said.Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama’s rival for the White House, hailed Russert as the “pre-eminent journalist of his generation.”
Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, said Russert was “one of the smartest, toughest television news journalists of all time …. I can say from experience that joining Tim on `Meet the Press’ was one of the greatest tests any public official could face.”
“It is my sad duty to report this afternoon” that Russert collapsed and died while working in the network’s Washington studios, Brokaw said when he came on the air.
“He’ll be missed as he was loved - greatly,” Brokaw said.
He won an Emmy for his role in the coverage of President Ronald Reagan’s funeral in 2004.
He will be missed.
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