Tim Russert Dead at the Age of 58

Tim Russert, NBC's Washington Bureau Chief and the Host of legendary political program Meet the Press has died today after collapsing while at work.

Barack Obama offered his condolences to Tim's family and gave the following statement:

We all I think have heard the news about Tim Russert. I’ve known Tim Russert since I first spoke at the convention in 2004. He’s somebody who over time I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend.

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. Somebody who cared about America, cared about the issues, cared about family. I am grief-stricken with the loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. And I hope that even though Tim is irreplaceable that the standard that he set in his professional life and his family life are standards that we all carry with us in our own lives.