I have enjoyed watching him drill political leaders on his weekly shoe Meet The Press for so long that it seems like a part of my life that shouldn’t go missing. More than almost any other journalist, Russert was dogged and determined. You could see it in his eyes every time you tuned in to his show. And I admired his ability to ask the right question at the right time of the right person. I also enjoyed watching them squirm in their seats when he asked it. To me, he represents what journalism is all about.
Russert was not the first Meet the Press voice and face. He won’t be the last. But I think he was the best. I wasn’t around in the early days of Meet the Press, but I can’t imagine that any of his forebears were anywhere near the journalist that he was. I can remember Marvin Kalb and Chris Wallace. I don’t believe I early watched Garrick Utley, who served in Russert’s capacity from 1989-1991 and there is undoubtedly a reason for that. But Kalb and Wallace, though both excellent newsmen, couldn’t hold a candle to Russert. Tim Russert was a dog and when he bit he bit hard. May he rest in peace.
