I reviewed one of Tim Russert's best-selling books a few years back. I was impressed at the strong feelings he expressed for his father in Big Russ and Me: Father and Son: Lessons of Life.

As I said in the review (read it here) I was surprised at the few mentions that his mother received. She was excluded in his 2nd best-seller, Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons too.

By now, everyone knows that Russert earned his undergrad degree at John Carroll University and then his law degree at Cleveland State Marshall.

When I saw him speak at a benefit for Tri-C a few years ago, it reinforced my perception of him as a "real guy." For example, when he was given a signed Cavs basketball as a speakers gift, he immediately showed off to the crowd that he could palm the ball. That's what a real guy does.

In his introduction at the event, NBC anchor Tim White told how he and his daughter were in Washington DC and went to Mass. He said they saw Tim Russert at Mass after a heated Meet the Press show "standing humbly in line for Communion." White said that he thought, "Oh the fathers at John Carroll would be so proud."

As the audience ate a white chocolate US Capitol building filled with mousse, Russert told Yogi Berra stories such as when Yogi was asked his favorite roommate, he answered 'Whitey Ford.' When Whitey Ford was asked the same question, he answered 'Angie Dickinson." Russert then sheepishly smiled at the head table and said, "Sorry Bishop" for the slightly off-color joke.

When telling a story of the Jesuits at John Carroll, Russert said, "Father Murphy put me up against the lockers for a perceived indiscretion."

He told of when Ross Perot, who was leading both George HW Bush and Bill Clinton at the time, came on Meet the Press. He said that Perot came on and had charts and statistics proving that we had problems. Tim asked what solutions he offered.

'What?' Perot asked. Russert said, "You've presented the problems now how would you solve them as president?" He said that Perot got mad at the break and he came up to him and took off his mic. "I was still sitting so we were about eye-to-eye" he joked. Perot "asked if I was trying to prove my manhood."

Later a flight attendant asked him about it. Russert asked her what she thought and she said, "He seems like the kind of guy who never returns his tray table to the upright position."

Tim Russert and Barbara Danforth at a Cleveland fundraiser

He remembered Kruschev banging his shoe and saying our children and grandchildren would grow up as communists. His father was jumping on the couch yelling "You SOB they will not." Russert added, "We won. Kruschev's son Sergei is now an American citizen."

He also spoke about the current issues saying Hurricane Katrina was "so much more vast than 9/11."

He told how he once asked some business people, off the record, about outsourcing. They all said 'if we could hire a highly trained, motivated and educated English speaking American kid we would in a second.' Russert said, "It's time to call their bluff."

One of the lines from his speech stands out tragically today. He said, "The best exercise for the human heart is reaching down to help another person."

Sadly, Tim Russert's heart gave out too early.

by Dan Hanson

Top of Page

Back to Great Lakes Geek News