Tim Russert

News Executive/Moderator

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his twenty-minute interview, Tim Russert (1950-2008) speaks about his early years growing up in Buffalo, NY and his decision to go to law school. He talks about his transition to television news, joining NBC News in 1984 as a vice president, and working closely with his mentor, NBC president Lawrence Grossman. He chronicles his next career moves: in 1988, becoming the Washington, D.C. bureau chief of NBC News, and in 1991 joining 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 also reveals what he considers to be the biggest news story of his career: the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 12, 2003 on the set of Meet the Press in Washington, D.C.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Tim Russert on Meet the Press co-creator Lawrence Spivak giving him the best advice he ever got about moderating

00:55

Tim Russert on how he prepares for a Meet the Press broadcast and how he used his family as a focus group

02:00

Tim Russert on what he considers to be his most important Meet the Press broadcast: the aftermath of September 11, 2001

02:09

Tim Russert on his historical Meet the Press "dream guests": Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler

00:58

Tim Russert on the limitations of television

00:29

Tim Russert on Meet the Press as a national treasure

00:14

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years growing up in Buffalo; on his decision to attend law school

On going into journalism and his initial reluctance to be on camera

On being tapped to moderate Meet the Press and his thoughts on television news in general

On working on Meet the Press, his process, and how he prepares for a broadcast

On covering 9/11 and the Presidential Election of 2000

On his dream Meet the Press guests; on executive producers Betty Cole Duckert and Betsy Fischer

Shows

Meet the Press

Tim Russert on moderating Meet the Press, his approach to interviews, and his broadcast philosophy

15:50

Tim Russert on moderating Meet the Press, covering the 2000 Presidential Election, 9/11, dream guests, and working with colleagues over the years

08:38

Today

Tim Russert on becoming an NBC News executive and overseeing Today

01:21

Topics

9/11

Tim Russert on his Meet the Press broadcast with Vice President Dick Cheney in the aftermath of 9/11

02:09

Tim Russert on how he found out about the attack and how journalists responded to 9/11

01:34

Advice

Tim Russert on Meet the Press co-creator Lawrence Spivak giving him the best advice he ever got about moderating

00:55

Bill Clinton

Tim Russert on covering the truthfulness under oath during the Clinton presidency

00:36

Historic Events and Social Change

Tim Russert on how he found out about the attack and how journalists responded to 9/11

01:34

Tim Russert on his Meet the Press broadcast with Vice President Dick Cheney in the aftermath of 9/11

02:09

Memorable Moments on Television

Tim Russert on the Meet the Press broadcast following 9/11 and the tribute to Father Mychal Judge

02:09

Television Industry

Tim Russert on Meet the Press co-creator Lawrence Spivak giving him the best advice he ever got about moderating

00:55

Television and the Presidency

Tim Russert on his coverage of the 2000 Presidential Election and the Supreme Court ruling

01:52

Tim Russert on covering the truthfulness under oath during the Clinton presidency

00:36

We Cried

Tim Russert on the Meet the Press broadcast following 9/11 and the tribute to Father Mychal Judge

02:09

Professions

Journalists & News Producers

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Tim Russert on his opinion that a vigilant media can change the course of history

00:58

Tim Russert on his career trajectory which culminated in journalism

01:32

Moderator

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Tim Russert on his career trajectory which culminated in journalism

01:32

Genres

News and Documentary

Tim Russert on the limitations of television news and avoiding gimmickry

01:35

People

David Brinkley

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Tim Russert on a David Brinkley quote about how news broadcasters condense a story

00:29

Dick Cheney

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Tim Russert on his Meet the Press broadcast with Vice President Dick Cheney in the aftermath of 9/11

02:09

Betty Cole Dukert

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Tim Russert on the legacy of former Meet the Press executive producer Betty Cole Duckert

01:01

Betsy Fischer

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Tim Russert on working with Meet the Press executive producer Betsy Fischer and the rest of his team

01:05

Lawrence K. Grossman

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Tim Russert on briefly working with Lawrence Grossman at NBC

01:17

Adolph Hitler

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Tim Russert on his historical Meet the Press "dream guests": Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler

00:58

Lawrence E. Spivak

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Tim Russert on Lawrence Spivak giving him the best advice he ever got

00:55