Tim Russert: World Class "Mensch"

I tearfully watched Tom Brokaw and his colleagues provide the nation an extraordinary and wonderful celebration of the life of Tim Russert during this morning's Meet the Press tribute to its fallen host. I lost it a bit myself when Mr. Brokaw momentarily choked up during an especially personal moment in the program.

Tim was our Sunday buddy. He was an inspiration to my family, including my two children, each of whom have begun their own careers in broadcast journalism largely because Tim made Sunday mornings a family viewing experience. I so very much admired him, and had the privilege of meeting him often in Washington over the years.

Tim always made you feel like a million dollars, even us small fry in the Washington journalism establishment.

When we occasionally bumped into each other at 400 North Capitol -- the downtown bureaus for both NBC and Fox News, he always had more than a minute for me. "Tell me, Ambassador, what's new in the world that I need to know?" What an honor, I thought...giving Tim Russert a sidewalk briefing on world events, as if he couldn't get a far better review from the morning's papers.

But Tim was an extraordinary kind man...who always made you feel like you were important to him, and boy, he always had a kind word when our paths crossed.

But one especially wonderful moment with Tim stands out.

My wife and I were in Manchester, NH for the primary in January. We had just finished breakfast at the Merrimack Diner, and the restaurant was crowded with media celebrities, and a few presidential candidates, on that cold Sunday morning.

As we were paying our check at the front cash register, a tourist handed me his camera and asked if I would snap a photo of him with Tim Russert, who was eating at the counter. As I took his camera to snap his picture with the celebrated host of Meet the Press, Tim told the man: "You surely must also want a photo with him, as well." "Why, who is he?" asked the man. Tim responded: "That's Amb. Marc Ginsberg...that's my foreign policy expert who is on Fox News."

Tim said that just loud enough for my wife to hear the compliment. As we were leaving the diner, I told Tim that he could not have said anything that mattered more to me, especially in front of my wife. He made me feel a million miles high that morning, because you could always, always count on Tim Russert to make you feel great.

Tim, you were a World Class "Mensch," (Yiddish for "a truly wonderful person), and we are all the more wiser for your having entered our lives. We will miss you, and I want to thank you for making us feel like we mattered in your life, just as you mattered so very much in ours.

Comments

[bklynbat83]

This is exactly what this great human being stood for.He welcomed the good, bad, and ugly of all conversations. It was only fair. However, I do not believe the knocks on this great American are deserved. He was by ALL accounts a truly real person. He treated everyone as equal. We all should hope to be a portion of what the man was for his family, his friends, and his country. Thanks Tim. This Jets fan will be rooting for the Bills this year too, R.R. in hand!

[EightDaysToAmish]

I"m convinced the only reason anyone stays in the media business is that they"re assured a really snazzy obit.

Media people figure an elegant obituary is the best reward for a lifetime of low pay, terrible hours, public scorn and job security so tenuous that they"re all afraid to read the business pages of their own papers.

What happened on Sunday's "Meet/Depress" is a perfect example with the peculiar Beltway twist.

What"s particularly galling to me is that Russert, a truly outstanding journalist, is being eulogized on a panel featuring disgraced plagiarists Mike Barnicle and Doris Kearns Goodwin. I don"t understand how verifiable plagiarism is not the career death sentence in places specifically organized to promote journalistic integrity.

The only thing missing was Don Imus.

[MmeFlutterbye]

first of all, I disagree with your assessment of these pundits as living a life of poverty. Secondly, haven't you realized yet that bad publicity...especially bad publicity.and scandal...earns you your own TV show or at least a locrative job as a "consultant" for any news channel? Thirdly, Russert was no better and no worse than any other journalist that adheres to the views of his advertizers. The week of mourning made me disgusted with a media that reads off the deaths of our men and women in the military as business as usual.

[gypsy508]

Fact, including the "overpaid" or perhaps "properly paid" Russerts of the world, 2004 figures show the average journalist makes 27K a year. With a masters degree, 33K. That is far worse than school teachers. No wonder our society is so dumb.

[Meatball1]

This is thread is typical of the moronic left. No respect for the dead. Only appeals for me, me me. Why not respect his life like you respect anyone who speaks of the downfall of the United States of America. The man attacked both the right and the left. Get over yourselves and your stupid politics. Get a job too!

May God Bless Tim Russert, his life, his family and the United States of America!

http://www.djgoski.com

[Clarabell]

You need to read Debra J. Saunders editorial in the SF Chronicle today. Debra is a staunch right wing columnist -- and here's one of her comments:

"The rap all shared about Russert was that he was "tough but fair. But the cozy schmoozing made the bond between politicos and journalists appear downright incestuous."

She also said:

"Here's a question that seems not to have occurred to the network suits: How are viewers supposed to see NBC--or other networks--as impartial when they air segments with numerous politicians calling Russert their "friend?"

------

So, has it yet occurred to you that some of us "morons" got it right and you were fed the pablum, which you bought hook line and sinker.

[hmb]

Tim Russert was so deserving of all the respect and praise he's received from people of every catergory and walks of life - please give him the respect he rightfully deserved - you really think so many people could be wrong about one man - people die every day - do you always see this type of love and outpouring for everyone - this man was special - so go watch some clips of his life and perhaps you could learn a few great life lessons from such an honorable man.

[Argente]

Mr. Russert certainly seems to have been a great guy, and MSNBC is throwing a real Irish wake for him. I expect it to last at least through Friday. Throwing back Bushmill's boiler makers, and singing loud and off-key sure beats the hell out of sitting Shiva.

[hrguy2]

Wow, I am taken back by some of the insensitive attacks on this blog. From everything I have seen and heard Mr. Russert was a saint. for anyone to attack him is this form is plain out of touch with reality. I hope the moderator will blog them. This is plain not the forum go to Fox for your quick fix.

[standard]

To those offering the gratuitously hostile comments here:

By sharing those reflections on the death of Mr. Russert--into whose character you make no pretense of having direct, personal insight--you have indelibly framed for the rest of us the weight we ought to afford to your opinions.

"Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

[LuckyBlessed]

Love the quote.

People wonder why Bush got elected, people wonder why gas is over $4 a gallon, people wonder why this county is billions in debt, why unemployment just rose again,why CEOs are getting million dollar bonuses for bad performance, why brave men and women are dying, why companies like Blackwater and their Exec's are getting money that should be going to our soldiers, why the little guy and gal is getting crushed...

Can you imagine Russert using the term Baby Mama? Well I guess I'll have to turn to that wonderfully intelligent, insightful, "fair and balanced" reporting on the other network. It's that kind of civil dialog that brings in the big $, and that's all that matters. Right?

It is said he liked to root for the underdog. So pray for all of us underdogs here Tim, we really need your help.

[Clarabell]

The truth is that Bush got elected because of the coverage in the MSM before the elections - If you think that Tim was there to save us, I really think you are mistaken. Again, I'm sure he was a really really great friend and father, but you and I are living with the consequences of the media not doing it's job of telling the American people the truth -- instead they fixated on swiftboating Kerry, same with Hillary and now Obama is getting the fine tooth comb scrutiny. Just because it's "said" that he was for the underdog, doesn't make it so. So why do you think Bush got elected and why do you think we have over $4 a gallon gas, etc. etc.? And just who are the fools here?

[Clarabell]

One of the things that struck me about watching all of his co-workers lavish praise on him as their guide, the quarter-back, etc. of NBC, made me realize -- Oh my god, he's largely responsible for the "tone" of all those other so-called journalists.

Well, thanks to whomever is monitoring the remarks on this thread today, because a lot of them that are getting through are more in step with my thinking.

[Yellowcat]

What is it with all these people who go into paroxysms of terminal snarkery whenever a person of note dies and is venerated by others? So what if the adulations are protracted. No one is threatening or bribing these grinches into reading the paeans to the fallen. One begins to suspect that they are somehow jealous of the love, respect, or adoration being shown. It is profoundly churlish of them to rail so vehemently and incessantly against those who wish to pay their respects or express their grief. Grow up, people and act as though you had enough self-respect to allow others their forum. Read something else, if this bothers you. This is all too reminiscent of those blue-noses who want to impose their personal moral definitions on everyone else, leading to the draping of statues. Go away, or better yet, go do something that will earn YOU paeans upon your demise.

[standard]

"One begins to suspect that they are somehow jealous of the love, respect, or adoration being shown."

That's quite charitable of you. I suspect that, in this instance, they are ideologues--of the left, right and completely loony varieties--who recognize that Russert wasn't a public champion of their particular favored messages. They conclude that he must, then, have been an opponent of their views and so, in league with their own particular demons. Not everyone possesses grace, values facts, and cares about people with different views or of other backgrounds. It may be simple: He did. They don't.

Your comment? Nice job. Much appreciated. Thanks.

[daharbin]

The Washington echo chamber in action.

[kurd]

Okay. I'm gonna start puking over this maudlin, hero worshipping crap!

[PghMike]

Anyone human could see how much Russert was enjoying this election, which is truly a historic election. I just feel bad that the guy's going to miss the finale, especially if , as I hope and expect, Obama beats McCain like a gong.

[terryb]

R.I.P. Tim.
There has been only one journalist in the m.s.m., with the guts to come out and tell it like it is.
Keith Olbermann, and there is no politician that would have the stones to take him on one on one. This man goes to the core.

[pesfb]

Jeez-oh-pizzas, when will this circle jerk of hero mongering by all his fellow co-opted roll-over "journalists", administration shills, and immature hangers on end?

[libertyanne]

It'll end when we're damn well ready. This happens all the time. It will be over
when the news stories and the funeral is done.

[JJeff88]

As a tv political news junkie, I always felt this emotional connection with Tim Russert and never could pinpoint why.

It finally dawned on me (at 5:45 am in the shower - where many of my insights come).

In two words: "George Dzundza."

Mr. Dzundza was an actor in "The Deer Hunter." Although billed by many as "about the Vietmam war", its appeal to me was always its larger-than-life depiction of a small Pennyslvania coal town in the 1960's - 70's. Robert DiNiro and Christopher Walken were superb in their starring roles.

Dzundza played the bartender.

Yet, to me, he stole the show - his patriotism, his joy in living and his pride, in his hometown buddies shined like a beacon. He was the local cheerleader, and his smile lit up the room.

George Ddundza. Tim Russert.

Call me goofy, but that's the light bulb that went off for me at 5:45 in the shower.

[GoCards1978]

Makes perfect sense to me.

[ranchobob]

Ok we get it.
Russert was a great man.

can we move on now?

MSNBC - does the "M" stand for maudlin?

[Lauris]

Please have respect for the man. Regardless of who he is or what he did in life. He was a man, husband, a father, a boss, a friend, etc....He died unexpectably and that is truely sad. He has only been gone 4 days. So please let people grieve the man. You would like the same courtesy if the role was reversed.

[Taurus]

To have no respect for the man would be to personally address one's comments to his family, friends, and colleagues. This forum is not their private demesne, and surely people should be allowed to express their distaste for the mawkish response to the death of a journalist who was nowhere near as intelligent, influential or experienced as Walter Cronkite or David Brinkley. If anything, he aided and abetted the rush to war and this White house's shredding of the Constitution. Are we supposed to be silent about that? When someone dies in America, sentimentality breaks out with monsoon force. Russert's death is a sad shock to his fans, certainly, but he was no saint, no genius, and often biased. Just recall his performance during the democratic debates.