As I was reading the front section of Sunday’s “New York Times,” it was impossible to miss the full-page memoriam to one of NBC New’s beloved reporters.
Even two days after the shock of Tim Russert’s untimely death had sunk in, it was still hard to believe he wouldn’t be hosting “Meet the Press” in a few hours. Like many people in Washington, D.C., I felt like a friend had died.
All across New Hampshire, emotions ran akin to my own. Before I had even heard the news on Friday afternoon, I received several text messages from friends who were as shocked as the rest of the nation.
It turns out, in the world of media power players, Russert was considered one of the good guys.
“It was sad,” said Michelle Chapman of Sanbornton. “I think he was one of the good ones. Genuine. I think he was genuine and I think a lot of the other ones aren’t. People felt like they could believe him. When he was talking about someone, you felt like you could believe him. I know I did.”
And in the midst of a heated presidential election year, it seems the country was relying even more heavily on Russert’s guidance and good sense.
Lisa Dunn, a University of New Hampshire graduate in political science, said the news was certainly a tragedy and no doubt will have far reaching effects.
“I was saddened when I heard of the death of Tim Russert,” Dunn said. “But his death does raise the questions about how much he, or the media, may influence people’s ideas or beliefs, especially in relation to the election.”
Nearly everyone in politics, from President Bush on down sent their condolences on Friday by issuing public statements.
“America lost a really fine man yesterday,” Bush said Friday, while in France.
The presidential candidates, too, expressed their grief publicly.
“There wasn't a better interviewer in television,” said Barack Obama, “not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew - somebody who cared about America, cared about the issues, cared about family…”
John McCain said, “He was truly a great American who loved his family, his friends, his Buffalo Bills, and everything about politics and America. He was just a terrific guy. I was proud to call him a friend…”
“I was sad and shocked,” said Lindsey Herbert of Concord. “I think he specifically had a huge impact on politics and how people vote because he asked hard questions and got the answers. I think he was very well respected for that. He didn’t just report what people wanted to hear or what they politicians wanted the public to hear.”