Tim Russert remembered, honored

NBC journalist Tim Russert's life and legacy was celebrated on The Today Show.

Colleagues and politicians have also expressed their sorrow and gave tribute to the newscaster.

"Tim had become an important part of our political process. He will be especially missed in this historic presidential election year," Dan Rather said. "Tim Russert was a beacon of quality journalism. At a time when quality journalism is in increasingly short supply, Tim Russert was a leader for what is best in American journalism. He was tough but fair, pulled no punches, played no favorites. As an interviewer, he had few, if any, peers."

Katie Couric called Russert a "big teddy bear of a guy" and a "pit bull of an interviewer."

"Laura and I are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tim Russert. Those of us who knew and worked with Tim, his many friends, and the millions of Americans who loyally followed his career on the air will all miss him," said President George W. Bush. "As the longest-serving host of the longest-running program in the history of television, he was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades."

Both candidates for Election 2008 also paid their respects.

"I am very saddened by Tim Russert's sudden death," Senator John McCain said. "Cindy and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the Russert family as they cope with this shocking loss and remember the life and legacy of a loving father, husband and the preeminent political journalist of his generation."

Senator Barack Obama said he first met Russert at the 2004 convention.

"He’s somebody who, over time, I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend," he added. "There wasn’t a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew."

Tim Russert autopsy findings

Newscaster Tim Russert's sudden death has been explained via a statement of autopsy findings from Dr. Michael Newman.

Russert, age 58, was known to have asymptomatic coronary artery disease which resulted in hardening of his coronary arteries," Newman said. "The autopsy revealed an enlarged heart and significant atherosclerosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery with [a] fresh clot which caused a heart attack resulting in a fatal ventricular arrhythmia."

In layman terms, the "Meet the Press" newsman had a heart attack and could not be resuscitated. Newman said lifesaving measures were taken immediately after Russert's collapse, and a full code was initiated after the D.C. paramedics arrived. Newman added that there is only a 4 to 5 percent survival rate in cases of sudden cardiac arrest such as Russert's.

Tim Russert passes away

Tim Russert passed away Friday after suffering a heart attack at the Washington Bureau, NBC News reported. The 58-year-old was the NBC News Washington bureau chief and the moderator of 'Meet the Press.'

According to the network, Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday's episode of "Meet the Press" at the time of his collapse. He had just returned from a family vacation to Italy to celebrate his son's college graduation.

He was "one of the premier political journalists and analysts of his time," said Tom Brokaw, former longtime anchor of 'NBC Nightly News,' when he announced Russert's death. "This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice."

Russert joined NBC News in 1984 and has hosted 'Meet the Press' since December 1991. The show is in its 60th year, making it the longest-running program in TV history. Russert has also held the positions of vice president of NBC News and head of its Washington operations.

In 2008, Russert was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

He received an Emmy Award in 2004 for his coverage of President Ronald Reagan's funeral, and his 2000 "Meet the Press" interviews with George W. Bush and Al Gore earned him the Radio and Television Correspondent's Joan S. Barone Award and the Annenberg Center's Walker Cronkite Award. Other accolades included the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television Journalism, the John Peter Zenger Award, the American Legion Journalism Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Journalism Award and the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism.

A member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, Russert also penned two New York Times bestselling books, 2004's Big Russ and Me and 2006's Wisdom of Our Fathers.

Russert is survived by his wife, Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth, and his son, Luke.