Vultures Maneuvering for Russert's Job

My wife and I were driving back from Boston when we heard Tim Russert had died of a heart attack. It was shocking and sad but by Saturday the media coverage was approaching Princess Diana intensity. The combination of a slow summer news day and the genuine affection Russert elicited from his journalistic colleagues generated wall to wall coverage of Russert’s death and career. Now don’t get me wrong but when did Tim Russert become the irreplaceable fountain of integrity and the source of all meaningful knowledge? Outside the insular world of political journalism and Beltway politics, I can assure you there weren’t two people out of ten who knew who he was. There will be somebody in his chair next Sunday.
As I heard one commentator after another call Russert irreplaceable, I was reminded of a conversation I had years ago. I was at a dinner party hosted by JFK’s sister Pat Lawford and seated next to Joseph Califano, a former JFK aide and Secretary of Health and Human Services under Jimmy Carter. At another table there was a world class blowhard waxing on about how important he was and mumbling something about his firm upping the key man insurance should something happen to him.
Secretary Califano rolled his eyes and said “I’ll tell you about irreplaceable” and then launched into a story about November 22nd 1963. He was in his office in the White House when the first reports of shots fired came in. Everyone in the building stopped what they were doing and gathered around TV sets. Califano said he instructed his secretary not to put any calls through. Information was scarce and no one knew the extent of Kennedy’s wounds. Just then his secretary said there was an urgent call from the President. Califano told me his initial reaction was relief. JFK must be OK. He picked up the phone and it was Lyndon Johnson with a laundry list of things to do for Califano. Within hours, workers were moving JFK’s things out of the Oval Office.
That harsh reality is already at work at NBC. Thanks to Tim Russert, Meet the Press is the gold standard for political chat shows. The moderator instantly becomes a very major political player. It will be fascinating to watch Tim’s “good friends” jockey for position as they try replacing him. My money’s on Tom Brokaw, the one guy not auditioning for the job. He has more than enough gravitas to fill Russert’s shoes and would probably like one more lap around the track after getting forced out of the anchor job a few years ago. People like the insufferable Keith Oberman, motor mouth Chris Matthews and David Gregory are already vamping for the gig.
The person I feel truly sorry for, beyond Russert’s own family, is Betsy Fischer his long time executive producer. She’s been with Russert for 17 years, starting as a lowly intern. In addition to actually watching her boss and benefactor die in her presence, she will now have to navigate the shark infested waters of all those maneuvering for his job and hers.
It’s always awful when someone is taken before their time. Tim Russert had done a lot in 58 years but he should have had more time. But his family and friends should take comfort in knowing he went out on top and didn’t suffer. He led a charmed and interesting life and will be well remembered.