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A Year Later, Russert Remembered

Legendary host's shoes may never be filled

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 14, 2009 12:06 PM CDT

(Newser) – Tim Russert died suddenly one year ago this weekend, and while a new moderator inhabits his chair on Meet the Press, no clear successor to his legacy has emerged, Patrick Gavin writes for Politico. “Of course there’s a void,” says CNN’s John King. “Tim was one of the most important journalists of our age,” adds Al Hunt of Bloomberg News.

One media critic cites a shift away from traditional journalists like Russert toward talking heads. New MTP moderator David Gregory has tried to adopt some of Russert’s Everyman appeal, and while his show remains on top, his rivals are sensing an opportunity to claim first. “Tim is irreplaceable,” said CBS’s Bob Schieffer. “But somebody has to do it.”

[Images (4)]

[Videos (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Luke Russert, son of Tim Russert, touches the empty chair that was his father's on the set of "Meet the Press'" Sunday, June 15, 2008, at the NBC studios in Washington. (AP Photo/Meet The Press, Alex Wong)

This photo provided by NBC shows moderator Tim Russert during the Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate. (AP Photo/NBC, Paul Drinkwater)

Tim Russert moderates the Republican Presidential Candidates Debate from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. (AP Photo/NBC, Virginia Sherwood)

In this photograph provided by "Meet the Press," the chair of late moderator of "Meet the Press", Tim Russert, sits empty on the set of the show. (AP Photo/Meet The Press, Alex Wong)

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David Gregory pays tribute to his predecessor Tim Russert on NBC's "Meet the Press." (MSNBC)

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann pays tribute to Tim Russert. (MSNBC)

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Nobody else is going to become Tim Russert. But maybe someday someone will come along, carve out a unique space and be as important as he was.
- Bob Schieffer, CBS's Face the Nation

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

Fondue

Jun 15, 2009 12:59 PM CDT

Russert's death was rather sudden. Honestly, a one year anniversary tribute is obsession?

AnnieChrist

Jun 14, 2009 8:20 AM CDT

I cannot consider someone a great interviewer who let rumsfeld cheney rice and the other serial liars of the bush administration spin their constant web of deceit week after week without challenge, and without ever having a responsible antiwar voice on his prograzm. russert was a tool and an enabler of the most despicable group of liars this country ever produced. Condolences to his family, but as far as resposible journalism, good riddance.

drlarrymitchell

Jun 14, 2009 7:19 AM CDT

Are we gonna go through this every year?

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A Year Later, Russert Remembered