Tim Russert
My father and I both liked Tim Russert. Very unusual that we would find common ground what with his Fox News leanings and my radio dial tuned to All Things Considered. In March of this year, I attended the Herblock Prize award ceremony and lecture. Russert was the featured speaker. He was smaller in person and slimmer than he appears on TV. It’s that new high-definition. Ultimately it will force actresses into negative sizes.
In his remarks, Russert recognized the man behind the evening, Herb Block, the renowned editorial cartoonist for The Washington Post and my one-time boss. He spoke of Block’s kindness and humble nature, that Block viewed cartooning as his vocation and his passion and a chance to “pop somebody right in the nose” if he deserved it.
Then in typical fashion, Russert began to crack wise. He mentioned Herb Block’s proclivity for leaving his wallet behind whenever they went to lunch. He made fun of Ross Perot who once became angry during an interview and said, “I wish I knew you were going to ask me all these tricky questions.” One time Russert was on an airplane and he asked the flight attendant what she thought of Perot. She said, “Perot strikes me as the kind of guy who would never return his tray table to the upright position.”
Russert spoke of this administration and said “I am angry” He called it the imperial presidency – from waterboarding, to their contempt for the Constitution. Russert said it was “gross misjudgment at best, airtight deception at worst.” He said it was the job of the press to be America’s watchdogs. “For the sake of ours and future generations, we must continue Herb’s work.”
Russert spoke of his beloved Father memorialized in his book “Big Russ”. He told us about his father driving a truck for the Buffalo News when he was a kid and that he believed a newspaper was something to be treasured.
He paid tribute to Sister Mary Lucille who was his teacher in the seventh grade. One day she said, “Timothy we need an alternative vehicle to channel your excessive energy.” Russert started a school newspaper. He wrote a special editorial when JFK was assassinated and sent it to Johnson, Jackie and Bobby and received letters from all three in response. “He’s one of us,” my father said. “Irish Catholic.”
Russert told a series of Yogi Berra stories to lighten the mood. A reporter once asked Yogi who is favorite roommate was on the road. Yogi said it was Whitey Ford. Then the reporter asked Whitey who was his favorite roommate. “Angie Dickinson,” he replied. As I’m writing this story, I’m thinking that may have been one of the greatest qualities of Tim Russert. He hit hard, but he also understood the importance of humor and he had a sense of fair play.
He then introduced a very interesting line of thinking. He was talking about all three presidential candidates as Clinton was still in the race in March. He said all the candidates had shifted their views on issues like the war, NAFTA, taxes and the religious right. Russert said it was his job to elicit not only who they are after they become President but who they were before. And that we should allow for the possibility that candidates can change their mind about an issue after learning something new, a quality much needed these days but almost never seen.
Russert asked Herb Block one time about his famous Cheshire cat cartoon. Block said he thought that when Nixon took office, he deserved a fresh start. He was willing to wipe the slate clean. Block then said, “But I always knew the beard was underneath,” a reference to Block’s depiction of Nixon with a five o’clock shadow. Russert referenced another political candidate who said, “The damn media, there you guys go again. Actually repeating what we actually said.”
Russert said he wanted to understand the candidates’ intellectual journey. He would love to hear one of them say I’ve changed my mind and let me tell you why. This is who I’ve talked to. “I respect that," said Russert. “A willingness to change your mind in light of new information.”
On March 16, 2003, Dick Cheney appeared on Meet the Press and Russert recounted asking him about the Iraq invasion. Cheney insisted American soldiers would be greeted as liberators in Iraq. Russert posed the question again. “If your analysis is not correct and we’re not treated as liberators but as conquerors and the Iraqis begin to resist particularly in Baghdad, do you think the American people are prepared for a long, costly and bloody battle with significant American casualties?” The Vice President responded, “Well, I don’t think it’s likely to unfold that way, Tim, because I really do believe we will be greeted as liberators.”
“We have an obligation to find out what happened and why. Honest inquiry asking for honest answers,” said Russert. “We should continue to ask the same questions of the 2008 candidates. What plans do they have for our country if in fact they have them at all?” Herb Block had it - the courage and willingness to sit and draw and write and express his views. Block said, “Every cartoon I do is a signed commentary. My point of view. I’m proud to express it. I’m free to express it.”
Russert concluded his remarks, “Every candidate has strengths and weaknesses. They should be able to explain how they arrive at their conclusions and explain with as much specificity as possible. Do they think they wouldn’t sound credible if somebody said, ‘I don’t know. Can I get back to you? Or I made a mistake.’”
In his remarks, Russert recognized the man behind the evening, Herb Block, the renowned editorial cartoonist for The Washington Post and my one-time boss. He spoke of Block’s kindness and humble nature, that Block viewed cartooning as his vocation and his passion and a chance to “pop somebody right in the nose” if he deserved it.
Then in typical fashion, Russert began to crack wise. He mentioned Herb Block’s proclivity for leaving his wallet behind whenever they went to lunch. He made fun of Ross Perot who once became angry during an interview and said, “I wish I knew you were going to ask me all these tricky questions.” One time Russert was on an airplane and he asked the flight attendant what she thought of Perot. She said, “Perot strikes me as the kind of guy who would never return his tray table to the upright position.”
Russert spoke of this administration and said “I am angry” He called it the imperial presidency – from waterboarding, to their contempt for the Constitution. Russert said it was “gross misjudgment at best, airtight deception at worst.” He said it was the job of the press to be America’s watchdogs. “For the sake of ours and future generations, we must continue Herb’s work.”
Russert spoke of his beloved Father memorialized in his book “Big Russ”. He told us about his father driving a truck for the Buffalo News when he was a kid and that he believed a newspaper was something to be treasured.
He paid tribute to Sister Mary Lucille who was his teacher in the seventh grade. One day she said, “Timothy we need an alternative vehicle to channel your excessive energy.” Russert started a school newspaper. He wrote a special editorial when JFK was assassinated and sent it to Johnson, Jackie and Bobby and received letters from all three in response. “He’s one of us,” my father said. “Irish Catholic.”
Russert told a series of Yogi Berra stories to lighten the mood. A reporter once asked Yogi who is favorite roommate was on the road. Yogi said it was Whitey Ford. Then the reporter asked Whitey who was his favorite roommate. “Angie Dickinson,” he replied. As I’m writing this story, I’m thinking that may have been one of the greatest qualities of Tim Russert. He hit hard, but he also understood the importance of humor and he had a sense of fair play.
He then introduced a very interesting line of thinking. He was talking about all three presidential candidates as Clinton was still in the race in March. He said all the candidates had shifted their views on issues like the war, NAFTA, taxes and the religious right. Russert said it was his job to elicit not only who they are after they become President but who they were before. And that we should allow for the possibility that candidates can change their mind about an issue after learning something new, a quality much needed these days but almost never seen.
Russert asked Herb Block one time about his famous Cheshire cat cartoon. Block said he thought that when Nixon took office, he deserved a fresh start. He was willing to wipe the slate clean. Block then said, “But I always knew the beard was underneath,” a reference to Block’s depiction of Nixon with a five o’clock shadow. Russert referenced another political candidate who said, “The damn media, there you guys go again. Actually repeating what we actually said.”
Russert said he wanted to understand the candidates’ intellectual journey. He would love to hear one of them say I’ve changed my mind and let me tell you why. This is who I’ve talked to. “I respect that," said Russert. “A willingness to change your mind in light of new information.”
On March 16, 2003, Dick Cheney appeared on Meet the Press and Russert recounted asking him about the Iraq invasion. Cheney insisted American soldiers would be greeted as liberators in Iraq. Russert posed the question again. “If your analysis is not correct and we’re not treated as liberators but as conquerors and the Iraqis begin to resist particularly in Baghdad, do you think the American people are prepared for a long, costly and bloody battle with significant American casualties?” The Vice President responded, “Well, I don’t think it’s likely to unfold that way, Tim, because I really do believe we will be greeted as liberators.”
“We have an obligation to find out what happened and why. Honest inquiry asking for honest answers,” said Russert. “We should continue to ask the same questions of the 2008 candidates. What plans do they have for our country if in fact they have them at all?” Herb Block had it - the courage and willingness to sit and draw and write and express his views. Block said, “Every cartoon I do is a signed commentary. My point of view. I’m proud to express it. I’m free to express it.”
Russert concluded his remarks, “Every candidate has strengths and weaknesses. They should be able to explain how they arrive at their conclusions and explain with as much specificity as possible. Do they think they wouldn’t sound credible if somebody said, ‘I don’t know. Can I get back to you? Or I made a mistake.’”
Labels: Herb Block, Herblock, Tim Russert
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