Tim Russert remembered, honored

NBC journalist Tim Russert's life and legacy was celebrated on The Today Show.

Colleagues and politicians have also expressed their sorrow and gave tribute to the newscaster.

"Tim had become an important part of our political process. He will be especially missed in this historic presidential election year," Dan Rather said. "Tim Russert was a beacon of quality journalism. At a time when quality journalism is in increasingly short supply, Tim Russert was a leader for what is best in American journalism. He was tough but fair, pulled no punches, played no favorites. As an interviewer, he had few, if any, peers."

Katie Couric called Russert a "big teddy bear of a guy" and a "pit bull of an interviewer."

"Laura and I are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tim Russert. Those of us who knew and worked with Tim, his many friends, and the millions of Americans who loyally followed his career on the air will all miss him," said President George W. Bush. "As the longest-serving host of the longest-running program in the history of television, he was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades."

Both candidates for Election 2008 also paid their respects.

"I am very saddened by Tim Russert's sudden death," Senator John McCain said. "Cindy and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the Russert family as they cope with this shocking loss and remember the life and legacy of a loving father, husband and the preeminent political journalist of his generation."

Senator Barack Obama said he first met Russert at the 2004 convention.

"He’s somebody who, over time, I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend," he added. "There wasn’t a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew."