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

NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of Meet the Press Tim Russert has died after a sudden heart attack at NBC’s Washington news bureau. He 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.

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 Meet the Press hosts. 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 100 most influential people in 2008.

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