Tim Russert's Sudden and Tragic Passing

Russert a Modern Journalistic Hero:

The Sudden Fall of a Media Icon

At 58 years of age, Tim Russert has died. His passing was sudden and came just a day after he returned from a family trip to Italy, where he was celebrating the college graduation of his son, Luke. Condolences immediately swept in from all ends of the political spectrum, as President Bush and White House contenders Barack Obama and John McCain issued statements to commemorate the loss of this media titan, considered by many to be the preeminent political journalist of his time.

Meeting Russert in Iowa:

When I reflect on Russert’s passing, my mind immediately comes to the night I met him earlier this year on a frosty night in Des Moines, Iowa, as I staffed an Obama Rally at Hoover High School, less than 24 hours before caucuses opened in that state’s historical contest. I and other campaign workers were busy welcoming and shuffling in the final arrivals to Obama’s final speech before Caucus Day, when a young man, who looked to be in his early 20s, asked me if I would take a picture of him with his dad. I, of course, said that I would and turned around to find a casually dressed and high-spirited Tim Russert smiling and putting his arm around his son, whom I later found out was roughly my age and named Luke.

What struck me most about Russert was that, in this moment, he seemed like less of a prime-time political journalist than a simple fan of politics, basking in the excitement of a candidate and campaign that comes once in a generation, if that. I’ve long senses that Russert, like many of his colleagues, supports Obama. I feel that he was a man who, more than anything, loved his country and longed to see it head in a new, better, and more hopeful direction. He saw Barack Obama, I believe, as representing precisely the type of change agent necessary to get the country moving in the right direction. I left that encounter and my trip to Iowa, more generally, delighted to have had this personal encounter with a person for whom I hold a great deal of respect, not only for his professional expertise, but for his compassion, kindness, and dedication as a family man.

An Ordinary Person with an Extraordinary Mission:

Russert was born in 1950 and throughout his life was, if nothing else, a fan of all things Buffalo, his hometown. Fans will remember his consistent and often unrealistic predictions of Bills Super Bowl glory, as well as the down-to-earth attitude with which he approached his work.

More specifically, however, Russert will be remembered by former interviewees and colleagues as someone who absolutely loved politics and was unparalleled to the rigor with which he approached his work as a journalist. This year was said to have been particularly exciting for the former Democratic activist, as the historic primary battle between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton drew millions of new voters to the polls and forged an excitement surrounding politics rarely seen in the United States.

Russert got his start in politics soon after completing law school at Cleveland State University, working for the campaigns of former New York Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Mario Cuomo, as well as long-time New York Senator and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, also a Democrat. Following his campaign work, Russert served as Moynihan’s chief of staff in the Senate and gained a reputation as a passionate, forceful Democratic activist.

Meet The Press:

In 1984, Russert went to work for NBC as a political commentator. In 1991, he took the helm at ‘Meet the Press’, the network’s long-running (in fact, it’s the longest running show in the history of television) Sunday morning political talk show. Russert quickly established himself as a tough but fair questioner, working above all else to force candidates to reveal what was truly on their minds.

Russert was also distinguished by his efforts to make politics make sense to the average voter. He is reported to have claimed that he knew he was doing a good job if, while watching ‘Meet The Press’, the ‘folks in Buffalo’ both understand what was transpiring, as well as learning more about political issues. Interestingly, until recently, Russert was a virtual no-show as a moderator of high-level debates, though he did fill this role on occasion during the ’08 primary season.

Tenacious Inquirer:

Some candidates, I’ve learned, feared Russert’s fierce questioning and were loathe to have him put them on the spot in a television, let alone, debate setting. In 2000, for example, during the lead-up to Hillary Clinton’s initial campaign for the U.S. Senate, Russert served as moderator for a debate between Clinton and her Republican challenger, Rick Lazio. The boisterous journalist from Buffalo spent his evening swiping at the candidates, but doing so in an honest, reasonable manner, which forced the candidates to articulate their platforms in a way that would allow voters to make informed decisions about the two at the ballot box. Several of my friends at George Washington University who majored in political communication often recalled watching this debate as the model of how journalists and candidates (both Clinton and Lazio were in good-form) should perform during campaign debates. Putting candidates on the hot seat and forcing them to give meaningful answers to difficult questions, I reckon, should be seen as the true job of any political journalist.

Moving Forward:

Tim Russert is not replaceable. However, his passing does leave an immediate void in NBC’s Sunday morning political repertoire that need be filled. Personally, I would like to see MSNBC Chief Political Correspondent Chuck Todd (with whom my brother is quite enamored) take over the helm at MTP. Still, no matter whom is tapped to fill in for the Buffalo boy, there will simply remain a void that will linger on the airwaves for some time. Today, we mourn the loss of a titan and, most importantly, a good man.

Tim, we’ll miss you. This year, we’re all Bills fans.