Veteran journalist Tim Russert, dies

Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet the Press" since 1991 and a political analyst for "NBC Nightly News" and the "Today" program, died today from an apparent heart attack.

Earlier this year, Russert, 58, was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. Washingtonian magazine also once dubbed him the best journalist in town, and described "Meet the Press" as "the most interesting and important hour on television."

Russert was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He is a graduate of John Carroll University and also graduated with honors from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

According to Wikipedia, Russert was born May 7, 1950 to Irish American Catholic parents. He graduated from Canisius High School in Buffalo, and was a graduate of John Carroll University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University. Russert was admitted to the bar in New York and the District of Columbia. Before joining NBC News, Russert served as counselor in New York Gov. Mario Cuomo's office in Albany in 1983 to 1984 and was chief of staff to Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan from 1977 to 1982. In 1984 he was hired by NBC at their Washington Bureau. He became Bureau Chief four years later.

Russert is survived by his wife, Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine, and his son, Luke.