RSSNBC’s Meet the Press Tim Russert Dead at the Age of 58 from Apparent Heart Attack
Tim Russert, NBC’s Meet the Press moderator and NBC Washington bureau chief is dead at the age of 58. Tim Russert collapsed on the set of Meet the Press yesterday from an apparent heart attack. Our thought and prayers go out to the Russert family. Tim Russert was a true giant in the news media industry and was a an interview that everyone feared but everyone wanted. He was tough, but generally fair. NBC, the media industry and America will dearly miss him.
I think I can invoke personal privilege and say this news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice,” Brokaw said Friday.
God bless Tim Russert, his family and may he rest in peace. Tim Russert was more than a journalist, he was a man passionate about his craft, politics, sports and his family.
WASHINGTON – Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after suffering a heart attack at the bureau. He was 58.
Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” broadcast when he collapsed. He was rushed to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
Russert’s physician, Michael Newman, said cholesterol plaque ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis.
The news spread fast yesterday as first it was reported that he had collapsed at the Meet the Press set and then it was being reported by NBC News Tom Brokaw that Tim Russert had died.
Tom Brokaw reports on the death of Tim Russert
It seemed almost believable. I was actually passing by a TV set and saw at caption of BREAKING NEW: TIM RUSSERT. I first thought that Tim Russert had broke a political news story. Then to my amazement Tim Russert was the news story and he was sadly gone. What set Tim Russert aside from the rest was the fact that he seemed to actually enjoy his craft. It was not always about gotcha journalism.
The reactions have been many from the news industry and the disbelief that Tim Russert had passed at such a young age. One thing is for certain, NBC will not be the same news organization as they lost one of their grounding and balanced forces.
Others discussing the death of Tim Russert:
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Wizbang: Time Russert Dead at 58
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The Jawa Report: Tim Russert Reported Dead
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Hot Air: Whoa: Tim Russert dies of heart attack; Update: Brokaw video added; Update: The closest to objectivity among the MSM, says Limbaugh
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Michelle Malkin: Reports: Tim Russert dead after heart attack; was working in NBC Washington bureau
UPDATE I: Tributes to Tim Russert
UPDATE II: One of Tim Russert’s last interview. Vigilance needed on campaign claims; Big issues, not smears, need to be the focus
Well, the truth wouldn’t hurt either, but I understand your point Mr. Russert. They are not smears when legitimate questions need to be answered.
UPDATE III: When the right praises a MSM man, you know that he was brilliant in his job. Rush Limbaugh praises Tim Russert.
“It’s just a shame. Tim was a regular guy with that perpetual smile he wore naturally all the time. He loved life and got everything he could out of it. Whether it was at dinner here in Florida while his son was taking golf lessons, or on the set of Meet The Press, Tim was always the same with me: genuine. He never condescended to anyone and was the consummate professional. He will be hard to replace. He was the closest thing there was at any of the networks to an objective journalist.”
UPDATE IV: Russert Mourned After Collapsing in NBC’s Washington Newsroom
Russert set the “gold standard” for moving from politics to journalism, said Albert Hunt, executive editor for Washington at Bloomberg News and a close friend. Before becoming a journalist, Russert worked as an aide to former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from 1977 to 1982 and then worked for former New York Governor Mario Cuomo in Albany for two years.
UPDATE V: What ever happened to respecting and honoring the dead and stop talking politics?
What is it with certain people that they are so full of hate that they cannot respect others, especially when we are referring to the dearly departed Tim Russert. Last night Chris Matthews had the opportunity to provide the respect and honor that Tim Russert had earned in his life, instead Matthews embarrassed himself and MSNBC. Some things are just inappropriate to discuss while eulogizing, Matthews managed to find that very topic. Matthews just couldn’t stop himself from bring up the war and Iraq. One will never confuse Chris Matthews and class, that is for certain. Chris Matthews, you are no and never will be any Tim Russert.
Watch the video for yourself.
Chris Matthews had his opportunity to offer remembrances of his colleague, Tim Russert, on Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night, and used it to give an anti-war screed. Even worse, he made Russert out to be a dupe bamboozled by the Bush administration while presenting himself as a superior journalist.
When most all on the Left and the Right in the media and bloggers honored and provided condolences to Tim Russert and his family, Chris Matthews managed to used the opportunity to go off on an anti-war rant. Some things are just so inappropriate and smarmy that one needs to feel to take a shower after watching and say ick. It really does go to show us all that Tom Brokaw was correct in his statement regarding Russert, I think I can invoke personal privilege and say this news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice. NBC and MSNBC are in deep trouble.
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11 Responses to “NBC’s Meet the Press Tim Russert Dead at the Age of 58 from Apparent Heart Attack”
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SM quotes…..”Tim Russert, NBC’s Meet the Press moderator and NBC Washington bureau chief is dead at the age of 58. Tim Russert collapsed on the set of Meet the Press yesterday from an apparent suicide. Our thought and prayers go out to the Russert family.”
Sorry, but it might be best to correct this statement. This was no suicide.
_______________________________
SM: Thanks…I’ve fixed it (klaasend)
GO,
Not sure what happened in the edit but obviously it was not a suicide.
Although I did not agree with Tim all the time, there was no one in the news industry that I respected more.
He was more than a journalist, he was a real person who was able to talk about and discuss other topics and actually know the topic.
His discussion of sports, especially the Buffalo Bills, made it obvious he was a true sports fan. His books about his dad, Big Russ, were brilliant.
He will be truly missed and I feel like a true part of what made me question people and politics died yesterday.
Tim Russert was one in a million.
R
On the other hand, tragic as this event is, there is some bad ju-ju here.
First Iowa Caucus goes to Obama, and now they are flooded out. Next Ted (I didn’t lift a finger to rescue Mary Jo) Kennedy endorses Obama, and now he as Brain cancer. Then Tim (Lil’ Russ) Russert attacks Queen Hillary in debates back in ’07 and now ole Tim has gone up to the great newsroom in the sky.
Okay, so I am no fan of Hillary and this is in jest, but makes you wonder sometimes.
God Bless the Russert Family
He was a solid guy, well
respected and loved by many.
He will be truly missed!
Sad. http://acropolisreview.com/2008/06/tim-russert-is-dead-at-58.html
Loved his smooth easy style. Greatly enjoyed his talking about his Dad, he had so much there where many of us had none…he shares with us all. I think the best tribute I could give to Russert is I wish I could be more like him.
Another along the line of Russert to me, to give a credit while he is yet vibrant is : Bob Schieffer.
He came to interview soldiers in the VN war. I was one of the ones he came to see. No doubt I was rude. Had no use for reporters bothering us and causing us to temper or amend what we were struggling with at any given time just to put on a show for them.
I watched him closely for decades. My regrets for being short with the guy, a guy I came to admire, though only from watching him on tv.
Much later I went to the same university he did. Journ/geology. I like him believe in the death penalty and a womans right to choose. Rather than say I am an independant I do say I am mostly a Republican.
Please excuse the interuption for credits to Tim Russert, as I have had nice things to say about his work before his death also.
I have boycott all network programing for over a year for how I precieve they stalked the president. Not that they care.
“God Bless Russert?” Most who know the score know that Russert was a liar and a deceiver who sold his soul as well as Americans a pack of lies. Did he ever dare go outside his bounds to tell Americans the truth? Of course not. Russert is now in Hell. Pity anyone who believes he told the truth.
8 Bob, wow?
Life is so fragile once we know to look.
I could only dream to be as good a person as Tim Russert. No doubt the ones who come see me tomorrow have more to forgive of me than you would allow. And somewhere in that notion, mixed with the avenues a mind takes, was something I felt Russert good at…do you think, as a thinking person, Ressert was naturally skilled at leaving travel room for the mind? Without lecture?
In a way I thought he was the beautiful poetic writer and singer of songs, that put his tunes into journalisum This may sound over the top, but he was at the top…doing it nicely for a democrat, so the acculade slings to a high reach.
I thought I misunderstood this, when I first heard it on the news. Hard to believe such a giant is gone and much too young.. Was listening to lots of the heart warming tributes for him. No man loved their father more and he was never afraid to say it..The book about his father “Big Russ & Me” , I loved it. One of his friends said he was like Colombo, with just one more question.
Sunday mornings will never be the same. He took what he was given and made the very best of it. In everything he did, it was so obvious, noone loved his family, friends,country or what he did for a living more and noone was better at it, than Tim Russert.
This has left a BIG void at NBC.. and I see noone there to fill it anytime soon. Basically the only news program I watched on NBC was Meet the Press. Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman , not a fan..I was watching when Chris Matthews started saying things from Paris and it was so in character for Chris Matthews. Exactly why I don’t watch him.
God Speed Tim Russert. You were one of a kind. My sympathy and condolences to his family and friends he loved so much.
r.i.p tim