MsJacquiiC

The last segment of Tim Russert's funeral is in progress at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Some 2,400 invited guests have convened in the concert hall to remember the Meet the Press host. You can watch the ceremony in its entirety on MSNBC.com or NBC4.com, the website of the network's D.C. affiliate.

"I want you to know this is a celebration, and we're gonna do it Irish-style," warned Tom Brokaw. "There will be some tears, some laughs and the occasional truth."

Tim Russert's funeral in progress at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The longtime NBC Chief Polital Correspondent and Meet The Press host passed away Friday, June 13 from a heart attack.

Some highlights:

• Brokaw vowing not to use the plastic American Legion "tooth brush" mug he received from Russert's dad until Election night, when he'll fill it with Rolling Rock beer (purloined from Russert's office refrigerator) and repeat the Russert men's favorite saying, "What a country!"
  
  
• The dueling stories of the source of Russert's son Luke's name -- alternately St. Luke and the movie Cool Hand Luke, the latter of which was trotted out whenever Russert was trying to book Paul Newman on one of his shows.
  
  
• Russert's grade-school teacher, Sister Lucille, telling him, "You're in heaven now. Every day is Meet the Press."
  
  
• Longtime pal Mike Barnicle remembering Russert as a "man of summer" who still "needed a grenade to get fish out of water" on vacation.
  
  
• Maria Shriver recounting how, upon meeting Tim Russert on her first day at NBC, he put his arm around her and said, "I was also educated by the nuns. I was educated by the Jesuits. I'm Irish Catholic, too. There aren't that many of us here in the building. But if we stick together, we'll be just fine." She also shared a story of Russert offering his help to get a Kennedy into Boston College.
  
  
• Brian Williams sharing Russert's last words -- his customary "What's happening?" greeting to an NBC editor on his way to record promotional spots for Meet the Press. "He never made another sound. Fitting, probably, because Tim was all about what's happening along his power corridor -- from Buffalo to the Beltway."
  
  He ended by telling a story of Russert's hair, his "only attempt at vanity." "When he got it done, he looked outstanding for 60 to 90 minutes afterwards.," he recalled. "Just gradually after exiting the salon and going about his day, something happened. He just went back to being Tim. It is perhaps best put this way: You ever rake leaves on a sunny day in October and you get them into what you think is a perfect pile? Then a gust of wind comes along ... That's nature taking the pile of leaves and returning to nature. Same thing happend to Tim's hair. The metaphor, of course, is this: What's happened here is our maker has taken our partner and brought him back home."
  
  
• Luke Russert asking the audience to imagine a special edition of Meet the Press live from inside St. Peter's Gate. Maybe Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr will be on for the full hour, debating. Perhaps JFK and Barry Goldwater will give their two cents about the 2008 election." He closed out his speech by invoking one of his dad's favorite expressions, "let us all go get 'em."
  
  He then threw to his uncle Tony, who performed an acoustic version of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run, one of his late brother's favorites. Then the Boss himself joined in from Europe, where he's currently touring. He recalled Russert's "big Irish smile" during his last Today show appearance.
  
  "I remember thinking, 'Oh my God, that's Tim Russert at this hour of the morning,'" Springsteen recalled. "I knew that given his day job, he had more important things to do, so we were always flattered and honored to have Tim as part of our E Street community. Tim had a belief in the promised land and the American idea, and that's the passion you heard behind all those tough questions on Sunday morning. He also believed in the honesty of service. That's his legacy -- for politicans, journalists and rock musicians, too."
  
  "Luke, this is for your pop," he said as he played Russert's favorite song, Thunder Road.

[ Source ]

MsJacquiiC

I offer my condolensces to Mr. Russert's family. I'm a fan of NBC News and have been for years. And when I watch - Tim's political segments were always one of my favorites. And given the recent political thread here at JPiC - I find it only fitting to remember Tim by posting this thread. He will be missed. I say - May he rest in peace.

Jacquii.

PaintedDiary

Thank you Ms Jacquii for this post. First, my condolences as well go out to the family as well Yes....I agree...I loved his reports and his and only his "SPECIAL" way of asking questions to get that answer. This is most fitting and yes...May he rest in peace. Thank you again Ms Jacquii for this important post.

Kim