The United States of America lost a media giant today. Tim Russert, moderator of NBC's Sunday morning news program Meet the Press and Bureau Chief of NBC's Washington Bureau, died suddenly at work today. He was only 58 years old! Tim died doing what he loved to do, he was working to prepare for Sunday morning's edition of his news program when he was struck by an apparent heart attack. He died studying the politics of the day and preparing to report on them.
Tim Russert has been a giant in the news media for the last 20 years, especially in the realm of politics. Few have the ability to analyze the politics of the day as well as Mr. Russert. Tim had a way of knowing the news inside and out and fully understanding the politics of the day.
I have been watching a great deal of coverage about Tim Russert's passing on his home network of NBC as well as on the Fox News Channel. Over the past few hours I have heard from world leaders, colleagues in the media from a variety of networks, current political figures, and many other friends and associates of Mr. Russert. As I have watched the coverage, I have heard the same things said over and over about Tim. These comments have been very complimentary, as may be expected at a time such as this, but in this case it is clear the people actually mean it.
I have heard of Tim's hard-hitting yet fair questioning. Everyone who talked about being interviewed by Tim Russert has noted they knew the questions would be tough. They knew that Tim would be well prepared to ask those questions. Everyone has mentioned how he always listened to the answers and would often guide the guest through a thought process of their own ideas. They have described him as very fair and in an earnest pursuit of the truth.
I have heard how Tim knew politics and how they worked. He was comfortable in Washington D.C. and knew his way around well. He could interact with the politicians and discuss the intricate details of the issues of the day. He was an expert in electoral politics and often provided analysis to his viewers on what was happening in primaries and general elections. Who could forget "Florida, Florida, Florida" written on a small white board? As a political junkie myself, especially in this extremely intriguing election year, I watch a great deal of talk shows with political pundits. Tim Russert was a source I regularly enjoyed hearing from to know what Tim was thinking. I might not always have agreed with Tim, but I always knew that his analysis and reporting was well researched!
I have heard about Tim Russert as a person. He has been described by many as a wonderful friend. How many people would do the kinds of things that person after person describes Tim doing for them? He actually asked people about how they were doing and really cared about their answer. He was there to celebrate with his friends when they rejoiced at the birth of a child and there to comfort when they faced hard times and death in their families. Tim was a genuine friend. More than that, people have all described him as godly man. His faith as a Roman Catholic was important to him and it did inform how he did his job.
I have heard more than anything else about what a wonderful family man Tim was. He loved his dad, Big Russ. His books revolve around his relationship with his beloved father. Not only was Tim a great and loving Son but he was also a great and wonderful father to his beloved son. He was a model father - a role model for all the fathers out there. He supported his son, he enjoyed playing with his son, he enjoyed ball with his son, he provided for his son, and he was faithful to his family!
Tim was a media giant and yet he never forgot where he came from. Tim was from Buffalo, NY - South Buffalo if you quote Tim directly. Buffalo is not just where Tim was from but it was where his heart was. He might have moved to Washington but he never left Buffalo.
In a world and media that is often full of people who are not the most upstanding people out there - Tim Russert stood out there as a fine example of what real journalism is about. Tim was a hard-hitting newsman but he was also a gentleman! Politics will not be the same without Tim Russert! One wonders if the outcome of the presidential election in November will be the same as it would have been had Tim Russert been alive to cover the run-up to the election! We will never know, but it is actually possible that Tim was just influential enough that he could have had an impact!
With much thanks for his fine leadership and service - I extend my sincere sympathy to his wife, Maureen; his son, Luke; his father, Big Russ; and all of his family as they mourn his death; as well as to all of his colleagues at NBC, especially those in the Washington Bureau. May the knowledge that Tim was a baptized child of God bring the comfort of Christ's resurrection to them all!
No comments:
Post a Comment