NEW YORK — Tim Russert’s chair was empty on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, two days after his unexpected death. But Russert was very much present on the full-hour tribute to this giant of political journalism.
“His voice has been stilled,” began Tom Brokaw, who led the conversation, “and our issue this sad Sunday morning is remembering and honoring our colleague and our friend. . . .”
Among those gathered were presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and political pundit Mary Matalin, with Maria Shriver — former NBC News correspondent and California’s first lady — on a remote hookup.
All agreed that Russert was tough but fair and, as a former political operative himself, loved politics and politicians. What he didn’t like, said consultant-pundit James Carville, was an elected official or anybody else who wasn’t prepared to face him. “The biggest insult to him was someone who came on and . . . didn’t take the show seriously,” Carville said.
