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Tim Russert

News Executive/Moderator

"I see "Meet the Press" as a national treasure.  In its 56th year, I am the temporary custodian, and I know that when my time is over, I'll pass it on to someone else." 

About This Interview

Tim Russert says that on Meet the Press he tries to ask questions that the effect the everyday lives of viewers: "The first question I ever asked on Meet the Press was to Senator Bob Dole.  There was a tax cut put in place for people making over $50,000 a year, and I asked him why that group was being targeted— while people who were buying a cup of coffee or a glass of beer were being charged sales tax. Well, my dad loved that question.  He drinks coffee, he drinks beer."  Tim Russert worked for NBC News for over two decades and at the time of his untimely death was the longest-serving moderator on Meet the Press. In his Archive interview, Tim Russert speaks about his early years growing up in Buffalo, NY and his decision to go to law school. He then talks about his transition to television news, joining NBC News in 1984 as vice president — working closely with his mentor, NBC president Lawrence Grossman. He chronicles his next career moves: in 1988, he became the Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief of NBC News and in 1991 he joined Meet the Press as its moderator. He discusses meeting with Meet the Press co-creator Lawrence Spivak, who gave him the advice to "learn as much as you can about your guest, and his and her position on the issues. And then take the other side." He took this advice to heart in his over 16 years at the helm of Meet the Press . He also reveals what he considers the biggest news story of his career, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States. Tim Russert (1950-2008) was interviewed in Washington D.C. on the set of Meet the Press on October 12, 2003; Karen Herman conducted the 20-minute interview, which was to be the first part of his full Archive interview.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • Meet the Press
  • Today

People

  • David Brinkley
  • Betty Cole Dukert

Topics

  • 9/11
  • Clinton
  • Television and the Presidency
  • We Cried

Professions

  • Journalists & News Producers
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Highlights

  • Tim Russert on <i>Meet the Press</i> co-creator Lawrence Spivak giving him the best advice he ever got about moderatingTim Russert on Meet the Press co-creator Lawrence Spivak giving him the best advice he ever got about moderating
    Clip begins at: 06:34, Duration: 00m 55s
  • Tim Russert on how he prepared for a Meet the Press broadcast and how he used his family as a focus groupTim Russert on how he prepared for a Meet the Press broadcast and how he used his family as a focus group
    Clip begins at: 07:29, Duration: 02m 00s
  • Tim Russert on what he considers to be his most important <i>Meet the Press</i>  broadcast, the aftermath of September 11, 2001Tim Russert on what he considers to be his most important Meet the Press broadcast, the aftermath of September 11, 2001
    Clip begins at: 11:03, Duration: 02m 09s
  • Tim Russert on his historical "dream guests" Jesus Christ and Adolph Hitler Tim Russert on his historical "dream guests" Jesus Christ and Adolph Hitler 
    Clip begins at: 16:38, Duration: 00m 58s
  • Tim Russert on the limitations of televisionTim Russert on the limitations of television
    Clip begins at: 04:59, Duration: 00m 29s
  • Tim Russert on <i>Meet the Press</i>  as a national treasureTim Russert on Meet the Press as a national treasure
    Clip begins at: 18:22, Duration: 00m 14s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On his early years growing up in Buffalo; his decision to attend law school
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On going into journalism and his initial reluctance to be on-camera
    Clip begins at: 02:25
  • On being tapped to moderate Meet the Press and his thoughts on television news in general
    Clip begins at: 03:51
  • On working on Meet the Press , his process, and how he prepared for a broadcast
    Clip begins at: 05:28
  • On covering 9/11 and the Presidential Election of 2000
    Clip begins at: 13:12
  • On his dream Meet the Press guests; and executive producers Betty Cole Duckert and Betsy Fischer
    Clip begins at: 16:38

Shows

  • Meet the Press
    • Tim Russert on moderating Meet the Press, his approach to interviews and his broadcast philosophy
      Clip begins at: 03:51, Duration: 15m 50s
    • Tim Russert on moderating Meet the Press, covering  the 2000 Presidential Election, 9/11, dream guests, and working with colleagues over the years
      Clip begins at: 11:03, Duration: 08m 38s
  • Today
    • Tim Russert on becoming an NBC News executive and overseeing Today
      Clip begins at: 02:30, Duration: 01m 21s

People

  • David Brinkley
    • Tim Russert on a David Brinkley quote about how news broadcasters condense a story
      Clip begins at: 04:59, Duration: 00m 29s
  • Dick Cheney
    • Tim Russert on his Meet the Press broadcast with Vice President Dick Cheney in the aftermath of 9/11
      Clip begins at: 11:03, Duration: 02m 09s
  • Betty Cole Dukert
    • Tim Russert on the legacy of former Meet the Press executive producer Betty Cole Duckert
      Clip begins at: 17:35, Duration: 01m 01s
  • Lawrence E. Spivak
    • Tim Russert on Lawrence Spivak giving him the best advice he ever got
      Clip begins at: 06:34, Duration: 00m 55s
  • Betsy Fischer
    • Tim Russert on working with Meet the Press executive producer Betsy Fischer and the rest of his team
      Clip begins at: 18:36, Duration: 01m 05s
  • Lawrence Grossman
    • Tim Russert on briefly working with Lawrence Grossman at NBC
      Clip begins at: 04:11, Duration: 01m 17s

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change > 9/11
    • Tim Russert on his Meet the Press broadcast with Vice President Dick Cheney in the aftermath of 9/11
      Clip begins at: 11:03, Duration: 02m 09s
    • Tim Russert on how he found out about the attack and how journalists responded to 9/11
      Clip begins at: 13:12, Duration: 01m 34s
  • Memorable Moments on Television > We Cried
    • Tim Russert on the Meet the Press broadcast following 9/11 and the tribute to Father Mychal Judge
      Clip begins at: 11:03, Duration: 02m 09s
  • Television and the Presidency
    • Tim Russert on his coverage of the 2000 Presidential Election and the Supreme Court ruling
      Clip begins at: 14:46, Duration: 01m 52s
  • Television and the Presidency > Clinton
    • Tim Russert on covering the truthfulness under oath during the Clinton presidency
      Clip begins at: 09:31, Duration: 00m 36s

Genres

  • News and Documentary
    • Tim Russert on the limitations of television news and avoiding gimmickry
      Clip begins at: 04:59, Duration: 01m 35s

Professions

  • Journalists & News Producers
    • Tim Russert on his opinion that a vigilant media can change the course of history
      Clip begins at: 16:38, Duration: 00m 58s
  • Journalists & News Producers > Moderator
    • Tim Russert on his career trajectory which culminated in journalism
      Clip begins at: 02:30, Duration: 01m 32s
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Submitted by Lydia from DC on Wed, 2012-02-29 08:03.

What a great loss of insight. Rip Tim....

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