Congressional leaders, journalists and others are remembering TimRussert, a prominent U.S. journalist who died of a heart attack lastweek.
A private funeral mass was held in Washington Wednesdayfor the 58-year-old. A memorial service is being held at a majorWashington center for performing arts, the Kennedy Center, later today.
PresidentGeorge Bush and first lady Laura Bush were among the attendees Tuesdayat a wake for the newsman, who collapsed in his Washington office onFriday.
Russert, the Washington bureau chief for NBC News, wasknown for his tough interviews of political and influential figures,all while maintaining a cheerful demeanor.
He took over ashost of NBC's in 1991, bringing the Sunday morninginterview program to the top of the broadcast ratings.
President Bush described Russert as an institution in news and politics for more than two decades.
Bothmajor presidential candidates - Democrat Barack Obama and RepublicanJohn McCain - paid tribute to Russert as one of the leading journalistsof his era. They both attended today's funeral.
Russert, anauthor of two best-selling books, came to broadcast journalism in 1984after working for Democratic politicians from his native state of NewYork.
Russert was also known as a family man and had justreturned from a trip to Italy, where he celebrated his son's graduationfrom Boston College.
Russert recently moved his father, knownto the nation as "Big Russ," to a nursing home. One of Russert's bookswas about his relationship with his father, titled