Under the leadership of the always-tough, always-fair Tim Russert, "Meet the Press" became the go-to interview stop for Washington power players and up-and-comers.
A "Meet the Press" appearance was anything but fluff. Politicians knew that it was a potential minefield, with an incredibly prepared Russert ready and willing to challenge past and present statements. A quote -- or a lack of one -- on "Meet the Press" had a lifetime that lasted way past Sunday morning, where Russert ruled in the ratings and share of mind for almost a decade.
Russert, 58, died Friday afternoon after collapsing in NBC News' Washington bureau, while recording segments for "Meet the Press." Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he died at a Washington hospital. He had just returned from a trip to Italy with his wife, journalist Maureen Orth, and his son, Luke, to celebrate Luke's graduation last month from Boston College. He had spent the morning taping "Tim Russert," his MSNBC show, and was working on this Sunday's "Meet the Press" in his final hours.
Under its longest-serving moderator, who came aboard in December 1991, "Meet the Press" was a hard-hitting but also decent interview for opinion. No one avoided the spotlight, knowing that Russert would be tough and uncover the truth. He was known for his persistence, often aided by audio and visual clips that challenged politicians. Russert spent many hours on homework, making sure that he was ready for whatever would happen either on "Meet the Press" or as co-moderator of NBC's debates.
"What I've tried to bring to the program more than anything else is preparation, being as prepared or more prepared than the guests that appear," Russert told The Hollywood Reporter in April 2006. "Be persistent but be civil. There's an expectation on 'Meet the Press,' whether you're Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, that you'll be asked the tough questions."
The Buffalo, N.Y., native traveled along way from his working-class roots, through law school and into politics on the staffs of two well-known Democratic pols before landing at NBC News in 1984 and quickly becoming one of the network's treasures. He made "Meet the Press" not only top-rated but also the must-see interview and analysis show, as well as the face of its political coverage for nearly two decades.
"This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice," former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw said Friday afternoon in a special report announcing the passing. "He'll be missed as he was loved, greatly."
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