Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of "Meet the Press," died Friday, NBC News said. He was 58.

Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s "Meet the Press" program when he collapsed, the network said. He and his family had recently returned from Italy, where they celebrated the graduation of Russert’s son, Luke, from Boston College.

No further details were immediately available.

Russert was best known as host of "Meet the Press," which he took over in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, "Meet the Press" is the longest-running program in the history of television.

But he was also a vice president of NBC News and head of its overall Washington operations, a nearly round-the-clock presence on NBC and MSNBC on election nights.

He was "one of the premier political journalists and analysts of his time," Tom Brokaw, the former longtime anchor of "NBC Nightly News," said in announcing Russert's death. "This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice."

MSNBC

Around 1pm EDT this afternoon, Russert was conducting a political Q&A on MSNBC.com. We're told Russert collapsed while in the tracking booth at the Washington bureau.

3:39pm: Tom Brokaw on NBC: "It is my sad duty to report that my friend and colleague, Tim Russert, the moderator of Meet the Press, collapsed and died earlier this afternoon. He will be missed, as he was loved, greatly..."

TVNewser

I am in shock.

Holy Crap!
That was unexpected!

He was a giant.

It was a heart attack.

Wow.

Election nights had become the Tim Russert show in recent years. When Tim spoke, people listened, even if they did not agree completely. Political discourse will feel his absence.

Holy crap. That's a stinger, man. I really liked him.

Yup, near the top of the things most unlikely to happen today. Gonna miss him.

He seemed like a great guy. It's weird because the last time I saw him on the news, I thought that he looked unhealthy. His face seemed to keep getting fatter, Im not sure if It was his diet or medication he was on, Regardless he was a good guy and will be missed!

America has lost another huge journalist. First Peter Jennings now this! This has got to be one of those events that will surely shake up the news business for the rest of 2008 and into 2009. It will be very interesting to see who is next in line for Russerts spot on Meet the Press. WOW!

Although I don't watch NBC nor MSNBC much anymore. Not to threadjack but when Brokow retired from NBC nightly news I rarely ever watched the nightly news anymore and favor ABC over the other networks nightly coverage. When it comes to MSNBC I rarely watch any longer due to Comcast moving MSNBC's channel position.

So should we be on the watch for #2 and #3? Should pdxradio's Morbid Death Pool thread make a return?

Sorry to hear of his untimely demise.

I still haven't picked up my jaw from the floor.

This is a tough day all the way around. Our teenage daughter went to the memorial service for the 11-year old Boy Scout that drowned this past weekend in the Clackamas River. Our daughter knows his older sister.

Praying.

I've watched some of the coverage on MSNBC, and I have to admit I've been sobbing for 30 minutes. I've seen so much Tim Russert over the years that I feel like I know him personally. What an enormous loss for MSNBC, the entire journalism business, his family, the city of Buffalo, and American political junkies like myself. He was the best of the best.

This guy was about as good as anyone could ever want. He should be given as much respect and honor as a person can give.

My opinion is that Tim Russert was perfect. Fortunately, for many of us, we knew it long before he passed. That's what you get from fellow humans when you deserve it. And he deserved it all.

I have always liked his smile...He always loved what he was doing and he was the best in interviewing both sides of the issue. He went the way I want to go (die behind the microphone) passing away at work...wonder now who will be MTP replacement? We're all gonna talk about/remember him for a while.

There will never be another Tim Russert.

'My opinion is that Tim Russert was perfect.'

Mr. Russert was a very talented man, an excellent broadcaster and quite an objective analyst. I'm certain to be leaving plenty out, as he was likely a great Dad, son and husband, too.

Yet in reference to calling any non-deity perfect...even someone like Abraham Lincoln, John the Baptist, pick your pope, or fill in the blank...with all due and compassionate respect, let's allow them their humanity as well.

Herb

Well put it this way then, I know that Tim Russert would prove me wrong if I ever accused him of being perfect. But I would try it anyway.

How's that?

He always loved what he was doing.

How many of us can honestly say that? If you have a passion and love for what you do during your life is all that really matters. At least he died doing something he truly was not only great at but also had a passion for it too.

I agree, he loved his job. I respected Tim Russert a great deal. There was also something utterly endearing about a guy who would grill other journalists, statesmen, congressmen and world leaders for an hour, and then close with an almost naively hopeful, "Go Bills!"

Tim did his homework, but still spoke like a skeptical fellow from Buffalo. He tried his best to frame it in such a way that any of us could be asking a given question to a person in power. By doing so, even complex issues were in the grasp of everyday people. He skipped gotcha and went for the long game. What he found was a gift to all of us, for the long term, and for the record.

He was an even headed non-partisan everyman at a time when media discourse had plummeted to new depths. He led a news bureau through some of our darkest history while his network felt the leanest times in modern television. He held his team to high standards, and before long, some of it rubbed off on his Sunday morning competition.

Tim showed great idealism and clarity in an election season that has seen most journalists lose their edge or their cool. He may have summed up his legacy and growing influence going forward in a recent quip during coverage of the Montana and South Dakota primaries:

"It's a role I think the media can play, in really trying to keep pushing this back to this big debate on big issues and not get caught up in a lot of this minor skirmishing that goes on and videotape that gets released where we just run wild with it and sit back and say, what happened? Why did we not cover some of these big differences like Iraq, like Iran, like negotiating around the world, like health care? There's profound differences between McCain and Obama..."

It was just a short fifteen or twenty seconds of conversation with Chris Matthews. It was late at night after a grueling day, but his enthusiasm for the process still bubbled like a mountain spring. I sincerely hope that all broadcast journalists carry a bit of his spirit into the coming years. If his legacy is one of civility, accountability and clarity in television journalism, the American people will be far better served in the future.

I first became familiar with Tim Russert when he was a frequent guest on the "Imus in the Morning Show" radio program in the late 1990’s. He always proved entertaining and provided insights into politics which I found easy to process -- and was never partisan. He didn't try to overly intellectualize issues, which is unusual for a personality out of Washington DC. Plus he talked most reverently about his father and his love for his son – now I find very touching.

It’s very tragic – but I pray his wife, son and father take solace in knowing how widely respected he was as a father, friend and journalist in a time and place where civility can be sorely lacking.

Yet again, when there is some tragedy or death that Herb can turn into some kind of partisan or religious issue, he does that.

Every Single Time.

Herrbocrite always has to add his "but".

Which of course negates his opening salvo.

Herb, Why can't you just limit yourself to your first point and leave it at that?

Truly, with every fiber in my being, I believe that Herb is the least compassionate, least charitable and most heartless member of this community.

Amen honey!

"Meet the Press" won't be the same without him.
Did Chris Matthews do any sort of tribute piece on him today? I missed "Hardball with Chris Matthew" Tonight, so I was just curious.

Tim Russert will be greatly missed. Tim was such a likable guy you couldn't hate him, he was like a giant teddy Bear. R.I.P. Tim Russel!

Agreed Merkin. Herb's post really pissed me off but I didn't feel like responding on it.

Tim would have LOVED to take part in this November's election!
RIP big guy....

Wow. Agreed with the above.

He will be missed pretty huge.

While Tim Russet was a large man, I didn't think he would fall down and die of a heart attack. When I think of a really unhealthy news reporter, I think of Paul Kangas on OPB. He hosts the nightly Business Report, and Well....Words can't describe how unhealthy he looks. Hopefully this will be a wakeup call to Paul Kangus on OPB!

I also cried while watching NBC Nightly News last night, and I was frankly surprised at my own reaction. I didn't realize I was such a big fan, but I think you just get used to TV personalities being there, week after week.
I watch Meeet the Press every Sunday, and I have admired Tim's approach. I always learned something about history, and I enjoyed it when he pulled out quotes from the past and called politicians on how they had contradicted themselves.
I don't work in news anymore and yesterday, when I delivered the news to my co-workers that Tim Russert had died, I was disappointed when they didn't share my shock and sorrow. One of them hadn't even heard of Meet the Press!! Boy, I felt lonely. Glad there are some fellow news junkies here.
As Tom Brokaw said, especially with the election coming up, Tim's death is a real loss for the country.

They had Tim Russert's son on "Meet the Press" And It was really sad watching him talk about his dad. I have a hard time watching "Meet the Press" any more. You don't realize how much you miss someone until they are gone!

JT: "You don't realize how much you miss someone until they are gone!"

I didn't realize how much I actually like him,until this..

Sad. He seemed like a good guy.

I just have to say that people of goodwill showed up today to the tune of thousands to pay their respects for Tim Russert at a wake being held at St. Alban’s School – the primary/secondary school where Tim’s son Luke attended. Tim’s wife Maureen Orth and son Luke greeted the many people who came to pay their respects to the fallen NBC News personality. It’s certainly a testament to just how much Tim meant to so many people.

House Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is an asshole.

Tim Russert would have wanted more domestic oil drilling

I thought about the replacement discussion.

My idea would be to just leave the chair empty for a time. A sobering reminder of our time here, what matters and what does not, and as an example to people to spend it wisely.

Today there were two memorials for Tim Russert. Keith Olbermann hosted the coverage of the Kennedy Center service and wrapped up Countdown tonight with a fitting tribute. In ending his report, he noted that even the most ardently agnostic among us would have paused at the sight over Washington D.C. this afternoon. As the strains of Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Ka'ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole sent the crowd home from the memorial service, a double rainbow graced the skies. Coincidence? Perhaps. Poetic? Absolutely.

I saw that. It gave me goose bumps.

One thing that has really caught me off guard is just how much Tim Russert meant to me. And I didn't even know it. At least to the point his death has affected me.

This makes me so F'ing depressed! I also didn't realize how much I really liked the guy! Im kind of glad I didn't watch it on tv tonight.I would have been in tears. Death is one thing I just CAN'T deal with.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Ka'ano'i is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard! I couldn't think of a more perfect song to play. Watching Tim every night, I almost felt like I knew him, even though I didn't.
I think Billy Joel put it best "only the good die young".

I agree! It was moving and unexpected.

It seems we always lose the good ones. Why can't a coupla nut-bags tip over, for a change. They seem to live forever!

Falwell did tip over.

On the other hand, the numerous Newts, Delays, Livingstons, Gonzales et al., although not quite dead, have pretty much left the scene.

just found this link...Dobson on Russert...

http://listen.family.org/miscdaily/A000001345.cfm

Is he STILL DEAD?

Once again, God took the wrong one!

Oh, Wait. Maybe it was the devil.

Since I'd bet God doesn't want Dobson.

(This post is in honor of Herb)

Maybe you-know-who had an appointment with his maker?

This summer has been a reminder of our mortality, what with losing Tim Russert and Tony Snow, and with Teddy Kennedy and Robert Novak fighting brain cancer.

...gadds...death is so final...making sure of a happy afterlife...

making sure of a happy afterlife...

Perhaps you can tell me exactly what goes on in this afterlife. We past the time doing just what, forever, and not get bored. There is not enough hobbies in the universe to last forever.

Surely we're not going there to just worship Him again? The only way one can really survive forever is with a central line morphine drip.

Oh you of little faith...the morph drip will always run out...I'm not worried about what will be doing in eternity in Heaven on the streets of gold with my own mansion/home God is building for me as compared to the alternative.

"streets of gold with my own mansion"

The mingling of spititual with material wealth has always struck me as un "Christlike".

Seems straight up delusional if you ask me.

What he doesn't know is God is getting his financing through Hayes Barnard.

>>mingling of spititual with material wealth

read John 14 and Revelation 21:21

>>Hayes Barnard

paying off my home (in this life) this year after 31 years of house payments...actually Barnard and Paramount is a scary organization and would never touch them.

streets of gold with my own mansion/home God is building for me

That'll bore me out in 3 hours. There MUST be more. Think about it . . . its almost more appealing to go to Hell and spend your time dodging Lucifer.

>>more appealing to go to Hell and spend your time dodging Lucifer

which is a lie from him...heaven sounds so much more....well...heavenly...

They both sound made up to control weak minded people.