Tim Russert, born in Buffalo, NY in 1950, was a respected journalist and moderator of Meet the Press on NBC. He had a successful career in politics before becoming a journalist. Russert was known for his fair and friendly moderation style and coined the term “red states/blue states.” He was also a best-selling author and received numerous awards. Russert passed away in 2008 from a heart attack.
Timothy John Russert has been called an institution, an icon of American political journalism loved and respected by colleagues, friends and even some opponents. Born May 7, 1950, in Buffalo, New York, Tim Russert made his name and reputation as a longtime moderator of the political interest show Meet the Press on NBC. He also served as Washington bureau chief at NBC. His influence in the world of politics and the way they are covered by journalists earned him a place in Time magazine’s 2008 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Tim Russert has been very vocal in his appreciation of the opportunity to attend Catholic schools provided by the hard work of his father, Timothy Joseph Russert, lovingly nicknamed “Big Russ.” After graduating from Canisius High School, Russert attended John Carroll University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1972. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor in 1976 from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Russert began his career in politics, not journalism as some might imagine. He began working for Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s campaign for Senator from New York in 1976. Following the campaign’s success, Russert served as Moynihan’s chief of staff for five years. He went on to work for Democrat Mario Cuomo in various roles.
In 1991, Tim Russert started as a moderator of Meet the Press, which has steadily gained popularity over the years. Any hopeful politician worth the salt of him had to make an appearance on Meet the Press, with the hope of making it out alive. Although Tim Russert has always been held up as an extremely fair and friendly moderator, he held each guest accountable for all past and present actions. He was celebrated for his intense preparation for each interview and for his in-depth knowledge of the political issues of the moment. Russert is said to have coined the “red states/blue states” designation of Republican- and Democratic-dominated states and successfully predicted battleground states in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. When he commented on issues of current affairs, viewers and politicians listened.
In addition to his influence on politics and journalism, Tim Russert was a best-selling author. He wrote a tribute to his father in 2004 with Big Russ and Me, which he followed with Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons in 2005. Russert has received numerous awards and honors, including 48 honorary degrees, l ‘Edward R. Morrow Award, the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism, and even an Emmy.
Although he had suffered from heart disease for years, Tim Russert suffered an unexpected heart attack while at work on June 13, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, son Luke and his loving parents.
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