Tim Russert’s son, Luke Russert would have made his father proud indeed. Not only has he demonstrated admirable and inspiring fortitude in such emotionally wrenching circumstances, he called for an end to divisive politics and personal attacks, and he got Barack Obama and John McCain together, literally.
Specifically, it was Mr. Russert’s son, Luke, 22, who got the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees together. He requested that they sit next to each other at his father’s funeral at Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown. Then, in remarks from the pulpit, he exhorted them and other politicians to “engage in spirited debate but disavow the low tactics that distract Americans from the most important issues facing our country.” At the end of the service, the two candidates embraced.
“Five months from now,” Luke Russert said a few hours later, “I wanted them to remember that this occasion brought them together.”
While that moment occurred at a private gathering, Tim Russert, who died suddenly of a heart attack on Friday, was honored later at a memorial service at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Acts that felt like an enormously special edition of the program he moderated, “Meet the Press.”
Source: Russert’s Son Sounds a Theme of Unity at Funeral
Here is the video of Luke Russert’s Eulogy of Tim Russert.
Russert’s son, Luke, who recently took a trip to Italy with his dad and mom Maureen Orth to celebrate his graduation from Boston College, gave the eulogy.
“My dad was my best friend,” the young man said. “To explain my bond with my father is utterly impossible to put into words.”
He entreated the crowd to picture his father moderating a debate in heaven, perhaps between John F. Kennedy and Barry Goldwater or Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.
“Tim Russert led with his heart, his compassion and most of all his honor,” Luke said. “I love you, dad, and in his words, let us all go get ‘em!”
Source: Family, Friends, NBC Fete Russert at Private Memorial
Bruce Springsteen made an unbilled appearance via satellite at the memorial service, which was broadcast live from the Kennedy Center.
The rocker, a longtime friend of the beloved broadcaster, was contacted by Russert’s son Luke and asked if he’d be part of the celebration of the late Meet The Press presenter’s life.
Springsteen, who is currently touring in Europe, paid tribute to his friend during a show in Wales on Saturday night (14Jun08), after learning Russert had suffered a heart attack and died the day before (13Jun08) - and he jumped at the chance to be part of the memorial service at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Strumming a guitar as he spoke, the rocker shared a memory he had of his late friend from a performance on America’s Today show: “It was a little early for rock musicians and I went into Promised Land and I did what I usually do; I was looking in the faces along the front row.
“I always look for that face… that’s filled with the music that we’re playing, and, as I scanned the front row and got to the left side of the stage, there was a guy in a crisp white shirt and a tie.
“It was Tim. He had on that big Irish smile… and it was beaming like an Irish sun… We were always flattered and honoured to have Tim as part of our E Street Band community.”
He then performed Thunder Road, Russert’s favourite Springsteen song.
Source: Springsteen Honours Newsman Pal Russert At Memorial
The entire memorial service can be viewed via the MSNBC Web site; links to video are here:
For liveblogging and numerous photographs:
See also related posts:
- Video & Photos: Meet the Press Tribute to Tim Russert 6-15-08
- Tim Russert, Moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press” Dies at 58
Video: Tim Russert Memorial: Luke Russert Eulogy, Bruce Springsteen Performance
