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NEW YORK (WCBS 880/ AP) -- NBC journalist Tim Russert has died at age 58. The family has confirmed his death with The New York Times.
Russert is the moderator of MSNBC's 'Meet the Press'.
NBC's Tom Brokow says in a special report that Russert collapsed in the Washington D.C. bureau today.
NY Post is reporting that Russert suffered a heart attack.
Russert was well-known for calculating the possible electoral outcomes during the 2000 elections on a white-board.
He moderated the February 26th debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during this year's primary season.
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In addition to his weekly program, Russert made periodic appearances on the network's other news shows, was moderator for numerous political debates and wrote two best-selling books.
NBC interrupted its regular programming to announce Russert's death, and in the ensuing moments, familiar faces such as Tom Brokaw, Andrea Mitchell and Brian Williams took turns mourning his loss.
Williams called him ``aggressively unfancy.''
Russert, of Buffalo, N.Y., took the helm of the Sunday news show in December 1991 and turned it into the nation's most widely watched program of its type. His signature trait there was an unrelenting style of questioning that made some politicians reluctant to appear, yet confident that they could claim extra credibility if they survived his grilling intact.
He was also a senior vice president at NBC, and this year, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Russert had Buffalo's blue collar roots, a Jesuit education, a law degree and a Democratic pedigree that came from his turn as an aide to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York.
Statement from President Bush issued by the White House:
``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.
``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. Tim was a tough and hardworking 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.
``Most important, Tim was a proud son and father, and Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Maureen, his son Luke, and the entire Russert family. We will keep them in our prayers.''
STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW M. CUOMO ON THE PASSING OF TIM RUSSERT
"Tim Russert was a good friend and a respected colleague. I learned of his passion for public policy firsthand when we worked together in my father's administration. He set a new standard for journalism. His death is a devastating loss."
STATEMENT FROM BUFFALO BILLS:
“The Buffalo Bills organization is devastated in hearing the news of the passing of Tim Russert. Tim, as everyone knows, was a tremendous Bills fan. He was always so proud to let people know just how much he loved our team and was such a great ambassador for Buffalo. So many times he ended his “Meet The Press” show with his patented “Go Bills!” that it became part of our Game Day morning rituals. He was a true friend and we will miss him immensely. Our sincere sympathies go out to his family and our team carries a heavy heart tonight as we mourn the loss of this great man, Buffalo’s native son and a Bills fan forever.”
One of his books, ``Big Russ and Me,'' was about his relationship with his father.
He was married to Moureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair Magazine. The couple had one son, Luke.
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