Tim Russert, NBC News "Meet the Press" moderator dies at age 58

Friday, June 13, 2008

NBC News Washington bureau chief, senior vice president and the moderator of Meet the Press Tim Russert has died today after a sudden heart attack at NBC's Washington news bureau. He was rushed to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., where resuscitation efforts failed.

Russert was recording voiceovers for Meet the Press when he collapsed. Russert and his family had recently returned from Italy after celebrating his son Luke's graduation from Boston College. He is survived by his wife Maureen Orth, son Luke, and father, who he knew fondly as "Big Russ", as illustrated in his best selling book, "Big Russ and Me."

A Buffalo, New York native, Russert graduated from John Carroll University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law before entering politics. He was also a member of the bar in New York and Washington, D.C.

Russert entered politics as former New York Governor Mario Cuomo's press secretary and was the chief of staff to former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Russert joined NBC News in 1984, directed broadcasts of the Today program, and went on to lead NBC News broadcasts from South America, Australia and China in 1986 and 1987.

He took over the role as Meet the Press, a Sunday morning talk show, in 1991. His 16 1/2 years as moderator exceeded those of other hosts of the sixty year old public affairs show. His tenure in the position extended over the terms of three different U.S. presidents, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Time named him one of the world's one-hundred most influential people in 2008.

Russert was a very meritorious journalist, winning an Emmy Award for his coverage of the funeral of President Ronald Reagan. A very decorated journalist, Russert received forty-eight honorary doctorates and was a member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.

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Sources

"NBC’s Tim Russert dead at 58" — MSNBC, June 13, 2008
Charles Hurt. "Tim Russert dies from apparent heart attack" — New York Post, June 13, 2008
Todd J. Gillman. "NBC newsman Tim Russert is dead" — The Dallas Morning News, June 13, 2008

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Articles presented on Wikinews reflect the specific time at which they were written and published, and do not attempt to encompass events or knowledge which occur or become known after their publication.

Got a correction? Add the template {{editprotected}} to the talk page along with your corrections, and it will be brought to the attention of the administrators.

Please note that due to our archival policy, we will not alter or update the content of articles that are archived, but will only accept requests to make grammatical and formatting corrections.

Note that some listed sources or external links may no longer be available online due to age.