Remembering the Man
Tim Russert, longtime host of Meet the Press, died last Friday. Which, to those who have been around me, depressed me. A lot. I was very sad and shocked to lose to possibly the greatest political reporter in American history. He was a standard for every Sunday morning for years for me and he will be very strongly missed. His family asked that his funeral be private and no cameras, although the wake was public. Thousands of people went to his wake, which lasted from 2-9 and people waited 2 hours just to pay respects. However, the memorial service was private, but broadcast over MSNBC. I taped on the rebroadcast, but someone youtubed it all, so following are the links, in order the people spoke from top to bottom:
Tom Brokaw
Betsy Fischer
Sister Lucille Sociarelli
Albert Hunt
Mario Cuomo
Mike Barnicle
Maria Shriver
Brian Williams
Doris Kearns-Goodwin
Luke Russert
Tony Scozzara
Bruce Springsteen
In case said people are foreign to you:
Tom Brokaw; Betsy Fischer, started as an intern and now producer at Meet the Press; Sister Lucille Socciarelli was Russert's 7th grade teacher in Catholic school who first put him in charge of the school newspaper, noting his great energy and attention to detail; Albert Hunt is the Executive Editor of Bloomberg News and longtime friend of Tim Russert; Mario Cuomo is the former mayor of New York City; Mike Barnicle is a writer tv personality, frequently on MSNBC (as was Tim Russert); Maria Shriver is the First Lady of California and former NBC reporter; Brian Williams is the anchor for NBC Nightly News; Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian and frequent guest on Meet the Press; Luke Russert is the son of Tim Russert, Tony Scozarra is the brother-in-law of Tim Russert; Bruce Springsteen is The Boss.
There's a part of Maria Shriver's tribute that made me call my sister and not quite apologize for being over protective and nigh-smothering (as I told her, I don't care how big she gets, it's my right to make her thing she needs my input in every aspect of her life :) Even if I'm wrong), there's part of the Mike Barnicle tribute that made me cry laughing, part of Brokaw's that made me cry and Luke's words showed as fantastic a interviewer and reporter Tim Russert was, and he was the finest in politics, he was a better father. And as the people closest to me can tell you, I've already told them that this is what I want for a wake: people sharing stories, people breaking out beer, people tell how I touched their lives and people constantly mentioning my ethnicity.
Still on vacation but this was touching and affected me deeply. Look up his greatest hits on youtube. His interview with Ron Paul was classic, as was his many interviews with Colin Powell, Barack Obama, John McCain and David Duke are among his best. I don't envy the person who has to follow, for he will not be replaced and will not be succeeded.
So it is written, so do I see it.
PS, here are the links to the Meet the Press Tom Russert memorial episode. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.
Tom Brokaw
Betsy Fischer
Sister Lucille Sociarelli
Albert Hunt
Mario Cuomo
Mike Barnicle
Maria Shriver
Brian Williams
Doris Kearns-Goodwin
Luke Russert
Tony Scozzara
Bruce Springsteen
In case said people are foreign to you:
Tom Brokaw; Betsy Fischer, started as an intern and now producer at Meet the Press; Sister Lucille Socciarelli was Russert's 7th grade teacher in Catholic school who first put him in charge of the school newspaper, noting his great energy and attention to detail; Albert Hunt is the Executive Editor of Bloomberg News and longtime friend of Tim Russert; Mario Cuomo is the former mayor of New York City; Mike Barnicle is a writer tv personality, frequently on MSNBC (as was Tim Russert); Maria Shriver is the First Lady of California and former NBC reporter; Brian Williams is the anchor for NBC Nightly News; Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian and frequent guest on Meet the Press; Luke Russert is the son of Tim Russert, Tony Scozarra is the brother-in-law of Tim Russert; Bruce Springsteen is The Boss.
There's a part of Maria Shriver's tribute that made me call my sister and not quite apologize for being over protective and nigh-smothering (as I told her, I don't care how big she gets, it's my right to make her thing she needs my input in every aspect of her life :) Even if I'm wrong), there's part of the Mike Barnicle tribute that made me cry laughing, part of Brokaw's that made me cry and Luke's words showed as fantastic a interviewer and reporter Tim Russert was, and he was the finest in politics, he was a better father. And as the people closest to me can tell you, I've already told them that this is what I want for a wake: people sharing stories, people breaking out beer, people tell how I touched their lives and people constantly mentioning my ethnicity.
Still on vacation but this was touching and affected me deeply. Look up his greatest hits on youtube. His interview with Ron Paul was classic, as was his many interviews with Colin Powell, Barack Obama, John McCain and David Duke are among his best. I don't envy the person who has to follow, for he will not be replaced and will not be succeeded.
So it is written, so do I see it.
PS, here are the links to the Meet the Press Tom Russert memorial episode. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.