NBC News Veteran Tim Russert Dies

Best known for his longtime Meet the Press
run, Russert suffered a fatal heart attack

Tim Russert

Newsman Tim Russert collapsed due to a fatal heart attack at the NBC News Washington, D.C. bureau today, according to reports.

He was 58.

Tim Russert talks with the Archive of American Television

In October 2003, the Archive of American Television interviewed news icon Tim Russert.

During the conversation, Russert spoke of his early years growing up in Buffalo, NY and his decision to go to law school.

He discussed his transition to television news and joining NBC News in 1984 as vice president, where he worked very closely with his mentor, NBC president Lawrence Grossman.

In 1988, Russert became Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief for NBC News and joined Meet the Press as moderator in 1991. He told the Television Archive of his meeting with Meet the Press co-creator Lawrence Spivak and outlined his philosophy for moderating a news interview show.

Russert also shared his thoughts about what he considered the biggest news story of his career to-date, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America.

The complete interview is available for viewing at the AAT office, located on the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences plaza in North Hollywood. You may also view it view the entire interview here at Google Video. Contact the Television Archive at (818) 754-2800 for more information.

To learn more about this life and works of this American Archive of Television personality online, please visit the Archive of American Television Update blog.