Statements of Loss

Death of Tim Russert: George Stephanopoulos Statement
from TVNewser
Tim loved everything about politics and journalism — because he believed in it. Every day he brought Washington home to his viewers and made all of us better. My thoughts and prayers are with his family — especially Maureen, Luke and his father Russ.

Death of Tim Russert: Bob Schieffer — "I Just Loved Tim and I Will Miss Him More Than I Can Say"
from TVNewser
Statement from CBS' Bob Schieffer:
Tim was the best of our profession. He asked the best questions and then he listened for the answer. We became very close friends over the years. He delighted in scooping me and I felt the same way when I scooped him. When you slipped one past ol' Russert, you felt as though you had hit a home run off the best pitcher in the league. I just loved Tim and I will miss him more than I can say, and my heart goes out to his son, Luke, and his wife, Maureen.

Death of Tim Russert: Roger Ailes Comments
from TVNewser
Fox News Chairman & CEO Roger Ailes in an interview on Fox News Channel at 5:05pmET:
Tim was one of the funniest guys that I knew. It's hard to find a picture of Tim, when he's not smiling. He was very, very good at what he did. He was an example for all journalists today and tomorrow.

Death of Tim Russert: Hospital Statement
from TVNewser
At 5:15pm Keith Olbermann read a statement from Sibley Memorial Hospital.
Tim Russert collapsed while preparing for Meet the Press. Resuscitation was begun immediately and the DC EMS arrived and a full code was initiated and he was transported to Sibley Memorial Hospital where resuscitation efforts were continued but to no avail. The cause of death is yet to be determined. An autopsy is being performed.

Death of Tim Russert: Walters on MSNBC
from TVNewser
At 5:23pmET, ABC's Barbara Walters appeared on MSNBC by phone to comment on the death of Tim Russert, who described the "grief the country's going to face." She also issued a statement:
There is no one who knew Tim, and that includes millions of Americans who felt they knew him too, who isn't deeply shocked and saddened by his death. Tim was everyone's idea of what a journalist should be and he made us proud. He interviewed me just one month ago for his weekly television show and much of our conversation had to do with his love for his father, Russ, and his son, Luke. My heart goes out to his wife, Maureen, and to Luke and Russ.

Death of Tim Russert: Maria Shriver — "I Was Lucky to Have Him As a Best Friend"
from TVNewser
On MSNBC at 5:40pmET, NBC's Andrea Mitchell read a statement from former NBC News correspondent Maria Shriver, now first lady of the state of California:
Tim Russert was one of my closest friends. He was like a brother to me. He was not only a professional confidant but a personal one. He was always the first person to call me, whenever anything happened with my family. And he always called me just to check in and see how I was doing and to encourage me. My heart goes out to his son Luke, his wife Maureen, his father, his sister and his entire family. They were his joy in life. Family and faith were everything to him. He was one-of-a-kind to me and I was lucky to have him as a best friend.

Death of Tim Russert: Judy Woodruff Statement
from TVNewser
Statement from Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspondent at PBS' The NewsHour:
I am devastated. Tim was everything the public knows and so much more. He loved his family deeply — Maureen and Luke — and had a heart big enough for all his friends. No one can know the big and little things he did for so many. He also loved this country and his God — in a way that gave meaning to the journalism he practiced. He loved life and life clearly loved him.

Death of Tim Russert: Katie Couric Reflects
from TVNewser
Tim Russert was so many different things.
Tim was a big teddy bear of a guy, but he was also a pit bull of an interviewer. He always held people's feet to the fire, often using their past words with great effect to reveal flip-flops or hypocrisy.
While Tim was incredibly tenacious, he always did his job with great humanity and respect.
Tim was passionate about the political process and was, in many ways, the navigator-in-chief for so many people. Because he was so knowledgeable, he was able to make politics accessible to millions