Washington – Political Heavyweight Tim Russert Dead Of a Heart Attack

Washington – Tim Russert, the host of the NBC program “Meet the Press,” has died of an apparent heart attack at age 58, his family confirmed.

Russert, who rose from the inside world of politics where he was former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo’s press secretary and one-time chief of staff to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, was able to successfully cross over to political journalism and rise to become one of its leading lights.

he became renowned for his hard-nosed interviews where he frequently cornered some of Washington’s cagiest political figures with tough questions.

In 2008, Time Magazine named him one of the world’s 100 most influential people.

In 2007 Mr. Russert received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yeshiva University President Richard M. Joel.