Only 58 years old – my best memory of him, actually, is a time he was interviewed by Rush Limbaugh about his biographical book about his dad, Big Russ and Me. Political differences aside, Russert came across as a very kind person who loved his dad very much.
May God bless Russert’s family and comfort them in this time of grief.
For none of us lives in himself, and none dies to himself; for if we live, we live to the Lord, or if we die, we die to the Lord.
Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. – Romans 14:7-9
UPDATE: President Bush’s statement:
Laura and I are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tim Russert. Those of us who knew and worked with Tim, his many friends, and the millions of Americans who loyally followed his career on the air will all miss him.
As the longest-serving host of the longest-running program in the history of television, he was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it.
Most important, Tim was a proud son and father, and Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Maureen, his son Luke, and the entire Russert family. We will keep them in our prayers.
UPDATE, by Matt Margolis: I post my own Russert story here.
UPDATE: Rush Limbaugh comments over at Radio Equalizer:
“It’s just a shame,” Limbaugh told your Radio Equalizer just moments ago. “Tim was a regular guy with that perpetual smile he wore naturally all the time. He loved life and got everything he could out of it.
“He was the closest thing there was at any of the networks to an objective journalist.
“Whether it was at dinner here in Florida while his son was taking golf lessons, or on the set of Meet The Press, Tim was always the same with me: genuine. He never condescended to anyone and was the consummate professional. He will be hard to replace,” Limbaugh added.
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