On the MSNBC show Tucker, Russert predicted the battleground states of the 2008 presidential election would be New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, saying, "If Democrats can win three of those four, they can lose Ohio and Florida, and win the presidency." Red states and blue states Īccording to The Washington Post, the phrases red states and blue states were coined by Tim Russert, although in that same article Russert states that he wasn't the first to use the terminology.
Political coverage and debates ĭuring NBC's coverage of the 2000 presidential election, Russert calculated possible Electoral College outcomes using a whiteboard (now in the Smithsonian Institution) on the air and memorably summed up the outcome as dependent upon " Florida, Florida, Florida." TV Guide described the scene as "one of the 100 greatest moments in TV history." Russert again accurately predicted the final battleground of the presidential election of 2004: "Ohio, Ohio, Ohio." In the course of the debate leading up to that election, Russert used February 2004 interviews with the two candidates to home in on the paradoxical fact (and the possible consequences for democracy) of their both apparently having been members of Yale University's Skull and Bones secret society. Time magazine named Russert one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008, and Russert often moderated political campaign debates. With Russert as host the show became increasingly popular, receiving more than four million viewers per week, and it was recognized as one of the most important sources of political news. One approach he developed was to find old quotes or video clips that were inconsistent with guests' more recent statements, present them on-air to his guests and then ask them to clarify their positions. The show also shifted to a greater focus on in-depth interviews with high-profile guests, where Russert was known especially for his extensive preparatory research and cross-examining style. Its name was changed to Meet the Press with Tim Russert, and, at his suggestion, went to an hour-long format in 1992. Russert assumed the job of host of the Sunday morning program Meet the Press in 1991, and would become the longest-serving host of the program. He was hired by NBC News' Washington bureau the following year and became bureau chief by 1989. NBC News: Washington bureau chief and host of Meet the Press In 1983, he became a top aide to New York Governor Mario Cuomo, also a Democrat.
He later served as special counsel and as chief of staff to Moynihan, a Democrat from Hell's Kitchen, New York. Senator Daniel Moynihan's five major law offices based in Buffalo, New York. Prior to becoming host of Meet the Press, Russert ran one of U.S. John Carroll University has since named its Department of Communication and Theatre Arts in Russert's honor. Russert told this story to Jay Leno when he was a guest on The Tonight Show on NBC on June 6, 2006. One concert that Russert booked was headlined by a then-unknown singer, Bruce Springsteen, who charged $2,500 for the concert appearance. He agreed, but said he would need to be paid because he was running out of money to pay for law school. Russert commented on Meet the Press that he went to Woodstock "in a Buffalo Bills jersey with a case of beer." While in law school, an official from his alma mater, John Carroll University, called Russert to ask if he could book some concerts for the school as he had done while a student. in 1972 from John Carroll University and a Juris Doctor with honors from the Cleveland State University Cleveland–Marshall College of Law in 1976. He received a Jesuit education from Canisius High School in Buffalo. His parents were Catholics, and he had German and Irish ancestry. Russert was the only son and the second of four children his sisters are Betty Ann (B.A.), Kathleen (Kathy) and Patricia (Trish).
Elizabeth and Joseph were married for 30 years, before separating in 1976. Russert was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Elizabeth "Betty" (née Seeley Janu– August 14, 2005), a homemaker, and Timothy Joseph "Big Russ" Russert (Novem– September 24, 2009), a sanitation worker.
2.2 NBC News: Washington bureau chief and host of Meet the Press.