Origins & Early Life

Timothy John Russert (May 7, 1950 – June 13, 2008) was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News and Washington bureau chief, and also hosted an eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview program. He was a frequent correspondent and guest on NBC's The Today Show and Hardball. Russert covered several presidential elections, and he presented the NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey on the NBC Nightly News during the 2008 U.S.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

presidential election. Time magazine included Russert in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008. Russert was posthumously revealed as a 30-year source for syndicated columnist Robert Novak. Russert was born on May 7, 1950, in Buffalo, New York. His mother, Elizabeth "Betty" (née Seeley; January 9, 1929 – August 14, 2005), was a homemaker, and his father, Timothy Joseph "Big Russ" Russert (November 29, 1923 – September 24, 2009), a sanitation worker.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Elizabeth and Joseph were married for 30 years, before separating in 1976. Russert was the only son and the second of four children; his sisters...

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• 1950 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1950
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