With Tim Russert’s life being celebrated today
during his memorial services, I feel the overwhelming need to honor this man and his enormous legacy he leaves behind. One of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson says:
“To laugh often and love much;
To win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children;
To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived…this is to have succeeded.”
Tim Russert leaves this earth with an enormous legacy of success. Success in the most genuine, broad, and everlasting impact. Mr. Russert was down to earth, humorous, and not content with average or good enough, but he was driven for excellence and truth.
He was demanding and passionate when it came to politics. He was a family man – nothing was more important to him than his wife and son. People have described him as a “trusted friend”. He lived his life with honor and integrity. He was known to “reach down to help others up.” He knew the value in learning to “listen” to people. He had working class roots and he never forgot or devalued his roots. He had extreme faith and enormous patriotism towards his country.
He was a tough interviewer . . . not to elevate himself but to take the issue at hand to a higher level of understanding and accountability. While some may argue that Tim Russert’s work ethic might have been a contributing factor to his early death (ever wondered how much stress affects our health?) , I have to wonder how much progress we as a nation could make if collectively we had more of Mr. Russert’s work ethic and passion.
Where would we be if we all prepared as if we were to sit across from Tim Russert for an interview on Meet the Press on a Sunday morning?
I never personally met Mr. Russert. However, I can tell you that he has touched my life and reminded me
“To laugh often and love much;
To win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children;
To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived…this is to have succeeded.”