American television journalist and lawyer, best known for his role as the moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Prees” Sunday talk show, Tim Russert collapsed at the offices of WRC-TV, which houses the Washington, D.C. bureau of NBC News where he was the Bureau Chief, while prerecording a segment for the Sunday edition of “Meet the Press.” He was immediately transported to Sibley Memorial Hospital, but he never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead a short time later at 4:15 p.m.

NBC said an autopsy shortly after his death showed he had an enlarged heart and significant coronary artery disease, Reuters reported. His history of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease led to sudden cardiac death.

On the evening of his death, the entire half hour of NBC Nightly News was dedicated to Russert’s memory.

Political figures, including Bush, and the two main candidates in the November election, Republican John Mc Cain and Democrat Barack Obama praised Russert’s commitment to the highest standards of well-researched journalism and fair play.

“Tim was a tough and hard-working newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it,” Bush said.

McCain said: “Tim Russert was at the top of his profession. He was a man of honesty and integrity. He was hard, but he was always fair.”

Senator Barack Obama described Russert as “somebody who over time I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend.” “There wasn't a better interviewer in television, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics,” Obama told reporters in Columbus, Ohio.