Romenesko

USAToday.com
Michael Gartner, who was president of NBC News from 1988 to 1993, recalls when he told Tim Russert that he should be the moderator of "Meet the Press." "No way," he said. Gartner and his newsman debated the issue. "He raised objections, I shot them down," writes Gartner. "At the end, he said, 'Look, I can't do it. I'm ugly.' 'Well,' I said with a laugh, 'I can't argue that one ... but I'm not looking for a handsome guy, I'm looking for a smart one.'" Finally, Russert agreed, and in 1991 he became moderator of the show.
> "I spoke to him at least two to three times a day," says son Luke (msnbc)
> "It wasn't a stone face asking a pre-prepared list of questions" (Newsweek)
> Carr: My father scheduled Sunday mass around "Meet the Press" (NYT)
> Ifill says Russert was never queasy talking about race with her (Root)
> Backlash against NBC's massive Russert coverage has already started (PO)
> Russert most enjoyed watching a Bills game with his family (ocala.com)
> Costa recalls when Russert told him to "get out there and do it" (WSJ)
> NYT's Nagourney on a lesser known chapter in Russert's career (NYT)
> New York lawmakers want to name part of a highway after Russert (AP)