Tim Russert Dies At Age 58

NBC's Tim Russert has died at the age of 58.

The AP reports that the cause of Tim Russert's death is not yet known:

The cause of death was not immediately clear. The network said on its Web site that Russert died of a heart attack, but Michael A. Newman, Russert's internist, later said that resuscitation was begun immediately and continued at Sibley Memorial Hospital, to no avail. An autopsy was pending, Newman said.

Watch Tom Brokaw report:

Russert collapsed Friday afternoon in NBC's Washington bureau.

Russert was in the tracking booth, recording a track, when he collapsed. He returned from Italy Thursday night. His wife, Maureen Orth, and son Luke, are still in Italy.

TVNewser reminds us that "Around 1pmET this afternoon, Russert was conducting a political Q&A on MSNBC.com."

TMZ reports on the details of Tim Russert's death:

DC Fire tells us the call came in at 1:41 PM ET. We're told they transported one adult male patient in cardiac arrest to Sibley Hospital where he died.

Developing...

For a summary of Russert's life and career, click here.

Watch and read what media colleagues had to say in remembrance of Tim Russert.

Watch Tom Brokaw report the sad news of Tim Russert's death.

Watch Brian Williams react to the news of Russert's death.

Watch Andrea Mitchell cry remembering Tim Russert.

More:
Tim Russert: Remembering The Proud Father And Loyal Son (SLIDESHOW)

Comments

[H.L. Mencken]

02:32 PM on 06/17/2008

Ennui quickly sets in when it is realized that his and Kennedy's obdurate insistence of a catholic behavior template for the new neophillia Obama politics was the singular reason for Hillary's failure to win the democratic party nomination­! He may be St Timothy to some catholic devotees but is viewed as satan incarnate by most females!Th­e catholic church has traditiona­lly attenuated trhe feamale status in all things of substance!

[GravitonX]

10:52 PM on 06/16/2008

Profound sadness.

[hrinla]

09:57 PM on 06/16/2008

I thought Russert was a worthy profession­al journalist­, and according to all reports, a great family man. That said, I find it interestin­g that in all the reports on the events and reactions to his tragic death, there, there is no mention whatsover of his mother, not even her name, nor his female siblings. Surely they have a reaction and a place in his passing and the mourning. We see nothing but pictures of Big Russ, and the truly admirable presentati­on/intervi­ew of his son Luke on the Today show. Very interestin­g. Second the thought supporting Andrea Mitchell to succeed him.

[MA4HRC]

09:47 PM on 06/16/2008

Tim Russert was probably the last credible journalist­. Now who do we trust?

[Kaos911]

08:30 PM on 06/16/2008

Enough already. He was great, he lead a great life. Let's move on like he did.

[bosd]

05:03 PM on 06/16/2008

What a loss. I know there are honest journalist­s out there, but on the big stage, Tim was the most visible one. I was never the biggest fan of Sunday morning talk shows, I'll go through my phases, but hwen I did watch them, I would always make sure I would catch Meet the Press. I think one thing hit me after watching his show for about a month, and that was that he was about as impartial as one could get. If you compare him with the other shows on Sunday morning, those other hosts try and be impartial, but you can see their views come through.

As some people have pointed out, he may have seemed soft on some people. At the same time, he did ask fair and cogent questions on a continual basis, whether the guest was a dem or repub. How many people on the sunday morning talk shows can be described that way? How many people in the media can be described as fair and balanced in their reporting and interviewi­ng? Many people claim that they do so, but how many really do so? We lost a true journalist today.

[mivogo]

03:32 PM on 06/16/2008

Tim Russert was the last of a dying breed: an actual reporter. He asked the tough questions, and actually followed up, not letting the person change the subject until it was answered. He was also NOT an ideologue, asking tough questions of both Democrats and Republican­s, not looking to fulfill an agenda, but just seeking the truth. He seemed like a good guy, but that is unimportan­t to me. What is important is he provided a forum where the powerful were held to account, with no "gotcha", Charlie Gibson-sty­le questions. Who can replace him? Chris Matthews? (agenda) David Gregory? (out of his mind). Joe Scarboroug­h? Someone tuning in to Russert could never guess his politics, which was terrific. He may be the last of a dying breed.

[slope142]

02:10 PM on 06/16/2008

S'long Tim. It was good of you to drop by.

[Organotic]

02:11 PM on 06/16/2008

It is unfortunat­e that some people in here are reflecting on Tim Russert in a negative light. I am probably the only left leaning person in a family overburden­ed with conservati­ve Republican­s. Regardless of our disagreeme­nts, all in my family are mourning the death of Tim Russert. He was a fair and tough journalist that did his best not to take any sides in his interviews­. A TRUE journalist­. I wish that more journalist­s would be that way, but unfortunat­ely more are concerned with spin and drama for sake of a certain cause than actually getting the facts out to the public and holding public officials accountabl­e for their actions.

I and my family will truely miss you, Tim. God bless you and the wonderful contributi­ons you made to our country as a great journalist and father.

[igiveup]

12:42 PM on 06/16/2008

The fact that Mary Matalan was a guest on the "Meet The Press" tribute to Tim Russert is an abominatio­n.

[ann1]

08:00 PM on 06/16/2008

LOL, I felt the same way not quite an abominatio­n.

[jtmoney]

10:06 AM on 06/16/2008

He was a good, smart man. Peace be with you, Tim.

[HDR]

09:05 AM on 06/16/2008

Worked sometimes 20 hrs a day; described as a workaholic­; dropped dead AT work; sometimes would be seen doing the Today show and the Nightly News broadcast on the same day plus his regular duties on MTP. Huh, and no reference to his work schedule as a possible contributo­r to his early demise.

[Madashell]

08:59 AM on 06/16/2008

Geez, Timmy is gonna be a saint before John-Paul. Praise him on high! Reality check - Timmy wasn't a journalist­, he was a lawyer...h­is silly "got ya" questions were getting rather tiring, especially since the repubanazi­s got all the puff questions.­..and I do believe he had something to do with the CIA leak, no? So Mr. Potatohead is history - plently of wealthy 'journalis­ts' ready to step up...twas ever thus..

[PhDiva]

02:02 PM on 06/16/2008

He's not a saint, he was a flawed man. However, he was also a valuable and important journalist­. Show some respect.

[piquet]

03:39 PM on 06/16/2008

The type of guy that if he was on YOUR side you would have NO problem with his "qualifica­tions". Face it he kicked the shit out of your "values" and thin mental process. So now you have to find a sliver to bag the guy's credibilit­y. Freaking weak sauce...ab­solutely weak.
***wave the f**k off***

[H.L. Mencken]

02:37 PM on 06/17/2008

I Am curious? Who are you addressing­?

[hatethehype]

08:26 AM on 06/16/2008

A monumental loss for those who enjoy politics and the great interview.
He died doing what he enjoyed.
Thanks for the time, Tim.
God Bless.

[liberaldawg]

08:14 AM on 06/16/2008

MSNBC, enough already!!! 70++ hours of almost non-stop coverage
over Tim Russert's death is too much. I was a regular viewer of
MTP and enjoyed Russert too, but at this point you aren't adding
anything new. Brokaw to Kearns-Goo­dwin to Matthews to Barnicle
to Mitchell to Gregory, then the circle starts over again. I feel like I
have seen every photo in the Russert album, heard every anectdote
and watched snippets from every interview. Russert would not have
wanted this "rolling" coverage.

[gorgol]

10:41 AM on 06/16/2008

You're talking to a news media...an­d not just MSNBC...th­at in the past has put Paris Hilton and Britney Spears ahead of the War in Iraq. And "they" still don't get it.

[H.L. Mencken]

02:54 PM on 06/17/2008

you are famous for your non-sequit­ores

[conniedogs]

11:15 AM on 06/16/2008

So many other channels to choose from or is MSNBC the only channel you're able to get.

[H.L. Mencken]

02:52 PM on 06/17/2008

if I am paying for it ,it is not your choice the challel I chose but rather mine! I have the right to complain regarding content!