By NBC News and MSNBC
June 13, 2008
ASHINGTON – 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 today. He was 58.Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said. He and his family had recently returned from Italy, where they celebrated the graduation of Russert’s son, Luke, from Boston College.
No further details were immediately available.
Russert was best known as host of “Meet the Press,” which he took over in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, “Meet the Press” is the longest-running program in the history of television.
But he was also a vice president of NBC News and head of its overall Washington operations, a nearly round-the-clock presence on NBC and MSNBC on election nights.
He was “one of the premier political journalists and analysts of his time,” Tom Brokaw, the former longtime anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” said in announcing Russert’s death. “This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice.”
In 2008, Time Magazine named Russert 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.
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.”
Implications are…amazing….
What is it all about, Peter?
Didn’t Burt Bacharach write that one?
Sigh…Dionne…one of my first crushes. She and Julie Andrews pretty much had my full heart’s attention early on. Although Cicely Tyson came in a close 3rd.
…Walk on By, another Bacharach classic.
Her whole collaboration with Bachrach was stellar. So in my book, Walk on By is as good a pick as any!
I thought Don Gorton and I were the oldest ones on BMG…
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p>Dionne Warwick!!! Heck I remember when she was on “What’s My Line?”
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p>Whatever happened to television shows like that?
to enjoy a beautiful voice and talented composers? if i tell you i also love js bach, will you just assume i’m 300+, lol?!
was of stills of Dionne Warwick “album” covers.
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p>Shall I explain “album” to you? Just because you can access wiki…
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p>LOL I used to steal my sister’s “singles” of Leslie Gore, “It’s my party” and “Judy’s turn to cry” and her record player which was in a very similar faux croc case as her hair dryer. And people wonder why I turned out gay.
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p>Remember, “Dippity Doo” Don Gorton????
…Psychic Friends Network. “What’s my Line” was well before my time.
Sorry to have troubled you.