The Dead Thread - Bilge

M mrtikibar Member Neskowin, OR Joined: Jul 07, 2002 Posts: 837	M mrtikibar Posted posted on Fri, Jun 13, 2008 2:03 PM Tim Russert NBC Newscaster Tim Russert Dies at 58 NBC News' 'Meet the Press' Moderator Died Friday After Collapsing at Work By RUSSELL GOLDMAN June 13, 2008 — Tim Russert, the veteran journalist best known as the moderator of NBC News' "Meet the Press," collapsed and died of a heart attack Friday while at work in Washington. He was 58 years old. Russert, NBC News' Washington bureau chief, was recording voice-overs for Sunday's edition of "Meet the Press" when he collapsed, NBC said in a statement. Known for posing hard-hitting questions to America's leading politicians and newsmakers, Russert joined the network in 1984 after working as an aide to New York Sen. Patrick Moynihan. In his 24 years at NBC, Russert worked as a political analyst for "Nightly News" and the Today" show and served as the NBC News' Washington bureau chief. The longest-running host in the 60-year history of the "Meet The Press," Russert took the helm in 1991, earning a reputation for asking his guests tough questions, often playing them previous statements they had made that contradicted comments or positions they professed to have. Russert was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950, the son of a sanitation worker. He was a graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland and later the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. In 1976 he went to work on the Moynihan's Senate campaign, and 1982 he worked on Mario Cuomo's campaign for governor of New York. In 2005, he was awarded an Emmy for his role in the coverage of the funeral of President Ronald Reagan. In 2008, he was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. Russert's father was the focus of the first of two New York Times bestsellers, "Big Russ and Me" published in 2004. His second book "Wisdom of Our Fathers," published in 2006 focused on the roles other people's fathers played in their lives. He is survived by his father Tim Russert, his wife Maureen Orth and a son, Luke Russert, who graduated from college this spring. Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw announced his death, calling Russert, "our beloved colleague and one of the premier journalist of our time." "This news division will not be the same without his strong clear voice. He'll be missed as he was he loved, greatly," said Brokaw. Russert famously boiled down the hotly contested 2000 presidential election, when on election night he scribbled the words "Florida, Florida, Florida" on a white board, succinctly explaining where the election would ultimately be decided. TV Guide named that moment one of the "100 Most Memorable TV Moments" and the Washington Post has credited him with coining the phrase "red state" and "blue state" to explain those states which typically vote Republican or Democratic respectively. Colleagues Mourn Russert's Death Russert's colleagues at NBC expressed shock and sadness at his untimely death. "We are heartbroken at the sudden passing of Tim Russert. We have lost a beloved member of our NBC Universal family and the news world has lost one of its finest. The enormity of this loss cannot be overstated. More than a journalist, Tim was a remarkable family man. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Maureen, their son, Luke, and Tim's entire extended family," said Jeff Zucker, president and chief executive officer of NBC Universal. Steve Capus, president of NBC News, called Russert's death "a loss for the entire nation." "Everyone at NBC News is in shock and absolutely devastated. He was our respected colleague, mentor, and dear friend. Words can not express our heartbreak. Our thoughts and prayers are with Maureen, Luke, Big Russ and all of Tim's family," Capus said in a statement. Many of those politicians who found themselves on the sharp end of Russert's questions also took time Friday to praise him. "As the longest-serving host of the longest-running program in the history of television, 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 in statement. Presidential contenders Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, each of whom spent more than one occasion on the other side of the "Meet the Press" table, expressed their sympathies. Both candidates called Russert "a friend." "There wasn't a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics and he was also one of the finest men I knew. Somebody who cared about America, cared about the issues, cared about family. I am grief stricken with the loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family," said Sen. Obama, D- Ill. McCain echoed many of those same sentiments: "I am very saddened by Tim Russert's sudden death. Cindy and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the Russert family as they cope with this shocking loss and remember the life and legacy of a loving father, husband and the preeminent political journalist of his generation. He was truly a great American who loved his family, his friends, his Buffalo Bills, and everything about politics and America. He was just a terrific guy." Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

Tim Russert
NBC Newscaster Tim Russert Dies at 58
NBC News' 'Meet the Press' Moderator Died Friday After Collapsing at Work
By RUSSELL GOLDMAN

June 13, 2008 —

Tim Russert, the veteran journalist best known as the moderator of NBC News' "Meet the Press," collapsed and died of a heart attack Friday while at work in Washington. He was 58 years old.

Russert, NBC News' Washington bureau chief, was recording voice-overs for Sunday's edition of "Meet the Press" when he collapsed, NBC said in a statement.

Known for posing hard-hitting questions to America's leading politicians and newsmakers, Russert joined the network in 1984 after working as an aide to New York Sen. Patrick Moynihan.

In his 24 years at NBC, Russert worked as a political analyst for "Nightly News" and the Today" show and served as the NBC News' Washington bureau chief.

The longest-running host in the 60-year history of the "Meet The Press," Russert took the helm in 1991, earning a reputation for asking his guests tough questions, often playing them previous statements they had made that contradicted comments or positions they professed to have.

Russert was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950, the son of a sanitation worker. He was a graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland and later the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. In 1976 he went to work on the Moynihan's Senate campaign, and 1982 he worked on Mario Cuomo's campaign for governor of New York.

In 2005, he was awarded an Emmy for his role in the coverage of the funeral of President Ronald Reagan.

In 2008, he was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

Russert's father was the focus of the first of two New York Times bestsellers, "Big Russ and Me" published in 2004. His second book "Wisdom of Our Fathers," published in 2006 focused on the roles other people's fathers played in their lives.

He is survived by his father Tim Russert, his wife Maureen Orth and a son, Luke Russert, who graduated from college this spring.

Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw announced his death, calling Russert, "our beloved colleague and one of the premier journalist of our time."

"This news division will not be the same without his strong clear voice. He'll be missed as he was he loved, greatly," said Brokaw.

Russert famously boiled down the hotly contested 2000 presidential election, when on election night he scribbled the words "Florida, Florida, Florida" on a white board, succinctly explaining where the election would ultimately be decided.

TV Guide named that moment one of the "100 Most Memorable TV Moments" and the Washington Post has credited him with coining the phrase "red state" and "blue state" to explain those states which typically vote Republican or Democratic respectively.

Colleagues Mourn Russert's Death

Russert's colleagues at NBC expressed shock and sadness at his untimely death.

"We are heartbroken at the sudden passing of Tim Russert. We have lost a beloved member of our NBC Universal family and the news world has lost one of its finest. The enormity of this loss cannot be overstated. More than a journalist, Tim was a remarkable family man. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Maureen, their son, Luke, and Tim's entire extended family," said Jeff Zucker, president and chief executive officer of NBC Universal.

Steve Capus, president of NBC News, called Russert's death "a loss for the entire nation."

"Everyone at NBC News is in shock and absolutely devastated. He was our respected colleague, mentor, and dear friend. Words can not express our heartbreak. Our thoughts and prayers are with Maureen, Luke, Big Russ and all of Tim's family," Capus said in a statement.

Many of those politicians who found themselves on the sharp end of Russert's questions also took time Friday to praise him.

"As the longest-serving host of the longest-running program in the history of television, 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 in statement.

Presidential contenders Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, each of whom spent more than one occasion on the other side of the "Meet the Press" table, expressed their sympathies.

Both candidates called Russert "a friend."

"There wasn't a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics and he was also one of the finest men I knew. Somebody who cared about America, cared about the issues, cared about family. I am grief stricken with the loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family," said Sen. Obama, D- Ill.

McCain echoed many of those same sentiments: "I am very saddened by Tim Russert's sudden death. Cindy and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the Russert family as they cope with this shocking loss and remember the life and legacy of a loving father, husband and the preeminent political journalist of his generation. He was truly a great American who loved his family, his friends, his Buffalo Bills, and everything about politics and America. He was just a terrific guy."

Post #386859 by mrtikibar on Fri, Jun 13, 2008 2:03 PM