Lessons Learned from Tim Russert's Death
By Bonnie Chernin Rogoff (06/16/08)
There are many things that could be said about Tim Russert’s sudden and unexpected death last Friday. He was trained in law and upon graduation went to work in politics, first for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and later for Governor Mario Cuomo. His career spanned 24 years at NBC News Washington Bureau, becoming its Bureau Chief in 1988. He will be remembered as host of Meet the Press, where he interviewed Heads of State with thoroughness and skill. Although he possessed a politically leftist slant, Russert’s interviews seemed fair regardless of his guest’s party affiliation. As most liberal journalists go, he was excellent as a debate moderator. He will be remembered for his professionalism, enormous contribution to journalism and his dedication and love of his work.
The passing of Mr. Russert was unfortunate; however, he was not a President or Head of State. It has now been two days since his death and the news coverage and tributes to Tim Russert have been relentless. Whatever the story may be, when it is one of their own the news media is persistent. President Nixon did not receive this kind of tribute when he died.
Perhaps what should be talked about (and won’t be) is the preciousness and unpredictability of life. The fact is, Mr. Russert loved his work and family, was wholly committed toward achieving success and he reached the pinnacle, achieving what most journalists only dream about. That is the important thing. He lived life to the fullest. Death should never be the issue, life should be.
Recently, it was learned that Senator Ted Kennedy is suffering with a malignant brain tumor. Immediately, the doom-and-gloom media began making preparations, the obituaries are pre-written even without saying so. Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) gave a teary and embarrassing tribute to his Democrat friend that sounded like it was delivered posthumously. Meanwhile, after surgery, it appears that the senator from Massachusetts is holding his own. Ted Kennedy lives. This was unexpected. Tim Russert dies. This was unexpected.
Last week I received my current issue of the AARP Bulletin, in which a feature story by Marie Cocco entitled “Too Old To Be President?” examines the age-old issue in politics: When is a candidate over the Capitol Hill? When does one lose the vital capacity for judgment when making critical decisions? The AARP article tells us that 33% of those polled in February 1984 said 73 was too old for a second presidential term. What that really means is 67% did not think 73 was too old, or did not care, and President Reagan’s landslide victory proved that point. The article reminds us that at age 72, John McCain would set a record for the oldest candidate to run for a first presidential term. A separate news byline on p. 7 states that 73 is the age that working Americans consider to be “old.” Not co-incidentally, that’s the age Senator John McCain will be next year.
Ms. Cocco attempts to draw a comparison between “age and experience vs. youth-and-vigor” and what will play out this year. Again, the AARP article relates a February, 2008 Pew Research Center poll in which a third of voters February felt that age 71 is “too old to be president.” That’s about the same percentage that considered 73-year-old Republican nominee Bob Dole too old in 1996 (and we all know what happened to him.) The AARP’s bias toward liberalism and youth (i.e., Obama) is apparent. However, the only important qualification is competence. Neither age nor experience guarantees that.
Finally, one can go back to Tim Russert and ask a hypothetical question: Suppose he had stayed in politics and had eventually become a senator or governor? Had Mr. Russert run for president in 2008, he would have been campaigning up until last week. He may have been the most qualified candidate out there. But he still would still be dead at 58.
So the lessons to be learned from Tim Russert’s death are: Be vital and passionate about your life and work, never stop achieving and don’t worry about age. Be competent and vote for competence. Finally, don’t make too many predictions because politics can be as sure as a gamble at the racetrack and you just might end up with a horse named Big Brown.
Copyright 2008 by Bonnie Rogoff. All rights reserved.
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