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NBC newsman Tim Russert relates how
excited his nine year old son was when he learned Russert would be
appearing with actress Pamela Anderson as guests on "The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno" during a taping at NBC studios in Burbank, California, in this
April 12, 2005 file photo. Russert has died from an apparent heart attack,
according to media reports on June 13, 2008. He was 58. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo)
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BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhuanet) -- A big
memorial service for Tim Russert, the renowned NBC TV host and journalist who
died suddenly last Friday, was held Wednesday at the Kennedy Center in
Washington.
His longtime friend and colleague, former NBC News
anchor Tom Brokaw, began the eulogy, saying the service "is a celebration, and
we're going to do it Irish style."
Besides many television journalists, lots of U.S.
politicians, including presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain,
members of Congress, as well as generations of politicians from both parties
paid tribute to the beloved host.
Russert's 22-year-old son, Luke, gave the eulogy,
remembering that "My dad was my best friend. To explain my bond with my father
is utterly impossible to put into words."
A funeral mass at Holy Trinity Church in Washington's
Georgetown neighborhood proceeded the memorial.
Russert, who had been host of NBC's Sunday morning
interview program "Meet the Press" since 1991, died of heart attack at age 58
while working at his Washington office in preparation for the next edition of
his program.
He gained national renown for his tough interviews
with powerful politicians of all stripes, for his acumen and passion for
politics, his prodigious preparation and for a down-to-earth manner that
reflected his upbringing in a blue-collar, Irish Catholic family in Buffalo,
N.Y.
(Agencies)
NBC TV host Tim Russert dies of heart
attack
WASHINGTON, June 13
(Xinhua) -- Former NBC TV host Tim Russert, who has acquainted Americans for his
prominent weekly program, "Meet the Press," died of an apparent heart attack on
Friday.
The NBC's Washington Bureau Chief collapsed at work and
was immediately taken to the Washington's Sibley Memorial Hospital, where he
died at 58, the hospital confirmed. Full story
