About Tim Russert's last moments...

[zulchzulu]

Apparently he was doing voiceovers for the Sunday Meet The Press and I would bet you that there is indeed audio of him in his last moments before he collapsed. I've done voiceover work and can tell you that the audio production engineer usually just lets the recording start and then pick out the best audio portions after all the work is done.

I just hope they deleted the files after that horrible event. I can see how some people are going to want to hear what happened, especially since he was in production while it happened.

Once the sting of this news fades, look for people to want to hear what may have been recorded...on a Friday the 13th no less.

RIP Tim... and MSNBC production crew... delete those files.

[Occam Bandage]

1. I hope they delete the files too. Some things shouldn't be for public amusement.

[Dinger]

2. Very True (nt)

[cyclezealot]

32. From what we see of the US press

I doubt it. Maybe NBC has more class?

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Probably Wouldn't Be Much To Hear

He probably died from unexpected cardiac arrest - probably just suddenly lost conciousness. There's usually no warning.

[blondeatlast]

4. Agreed, I have no quarrel with NBC, etc. with destroying those tapes.

God bless him.

[Yael]

5. They need to delete those files ASAP.

Before anyone gets any sick ideas about selling them.

[TexasObserver]

6. They won't delete the files.

I'm certain they won't delete them. It would be bizarre if they did.

He was on the job. He was working. He died. There's absolutely no reason why NBC would destroy the last moments which give the audio of his death. Whether they use the audio for any reason is another issue entirely.


In all likelihood, they will preserve the files, and allow the family to decide what happens to them.

[zulchzulu]

10. Perhaps they could encrypt them or something...

I just think that if he was in the session doing voiceovers, he was in the sound room with the script and the microphone. If he was mid-sentence and then fell over or whatever, it's just something that should not be kept out of respect for the profession.

If I were them, I would encrypt the files at least. Delete them out of mere professional courtesy at the least...

[TexasObserver]

11. If they feel a need to do that, they could.

The unspoken concern of several on this thread seems to be that if this file somehow gets out, it's a great invasion of Russert's privary. The only two parties whose opinions on this topic matter are NBC and Russert's family. I'm certain they will NOT delete the files. Why? Because three months from now, Russert's family may decide to file a wrongful death action, or some other legal claim relating to his death. The files would be evidence. I don't think there is any possibility that the files get destroyed or deleted, UNLESS it is by a joint agreement of NBC and the Russert family.

[cbc5g]

7. Just like the Steve Erwin tape, they should delete it

Theres no reason to listen to it.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. Even if they don't delete it, they surely won't release it.

[TexasObserver]

12. Unless they're requested to do so by the Russert family, that is very true.

[shadowknows69]

9. I'm sure the engineer shut down as soon as there was trouble

The tape was probably rolling but doubtful it was unattended.

[AllentownJake]

13. Cardiac Arrest

Isn't like in the movies. The only thing that is probably on those tapes is him falling down or saying I don't feel good before falling down. For a Heart Attack to kill someone as fast as that one did in an area that close to a hospital it had to have been a very massive Heart Attack.

The only thing on those tapes is him doing his audio work in most liklihood than silence and people rushing into the room to help him.

[TexasObserver]

14. Agreed. There will be very little.

Breathing, maybe a fall, and some shuffling as people react.

I don't expect it to be anything significant, just sounds that don't mean much.

[Madam Mossfern]

15. I know that we were all proud of my father's last words

before he died of a heart attack. They were "I've never had such a good time in my life." And then he sat down and died. Sometimes it goes that way with good people. I may seem callous, especially since we are all shocked and grieving, but at least it was quick. It's just very very hard for it to sink in.

[SoCalDem]

19. Last words..

My friend's mother dropped dead of a heart attack on Thanksgiving Day, when my friend was only 17.. her last words?

"Oh Shit..the rolls"...

She jumped up, ran into the kitchen to get them out of the oven, and the next thing they heard from the dining room, was a thud, as she fell to the floor..

She never smoked, drank.. was not overweight..was in supposed good health, and she died that afternoon at age 38 fo no apparent reason..:(

[Madam Mossfern]

20. I had a massive heart attack

when I was 46. It was a coronary aneurysm. Fortunately I survived. Something similar may have happened to your friend's mother. I remember saying to my daughter while in pain, "Was there eggplant in those chocolates you gave me?" It was a joke...eggplant is the only thing I'm allergic to. She was selling "Ooo LaLa chocolates for the French club.

[zulchzulu]

25. I'm so glad you made it!

:headbang:

[musicblind]

31. Yes! So glad to hear that you are okay!

[Clark2008]

26. What had he been doing to have such a good time?

I'm not trying to be overly nosy, but the fact that he was having a good time and enjoying himself at something lends a beautiful touch to your story.

[Madam Mossfern]

28. He was at Epcot in Disney World

He died under the big globe.
It was when it first opened.

He was a good, kind, gentle generous man...and successful too.

[powergirl]

21. The same way my mother died 20 years ago - at age 47

Cardiac arrest can't always be detected in advance. It's not caused by blockage in arteries and veins. It has to do with the way the heart beats and the valves open and close. It is shocking and horrifying for this to happen to a loved one. My prayers and Hail Marys are for his family who will be taking that lonely flight from Italy to Washington to see their beloved father and husband. I hope someone of means can loan them an airplane so they can mourn in privacy. God Bless them.

[JuniperLea]

16. Why is this in GD: P? eom

[PBS Poll-435]

17. Because a Presidential candidate or one of his/her surrogates was on his show every Sunday

[LibraLiz1973]

22. Why are you asking this in every thread?

Clearly you don't like these threads
SO DON'T BOTHER POSTING IN THEM

[zulchzulu]

24. Perhaps you just crawled out from under a rock

The last Meet The Press I recall was how Tim Russert was just electrified by the historic moments in our American history with two candidates such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, a woman and an African-American, making it to the top in this Presidential race.

He would have LOVED to have seen the election come to its full fruition. Not that I agreed with all that he did in his works, but he certainly demands our respect in this forum as well as respect with how his final moments may be recorded.

If you don't get that, good luck in your life.

[SoCalDem]

18. I'm betting that it was NOT just a heart attack,,but DVT.

Russert was a big guy, and since he had just flown from Ital the night before, I'm betting that DVT played a big part in his heart attack.. The airline seats these says are pretty cramped, and even in first class (if he flew first class) the lack of mobility for such a long time can compromise blood flow..

A man as heavily insured as he must have been would surely have been diagnosed/treated for heart disease if he had had it. Maybe he did, and told no one, but the sudden onset of troubles, so soon after a long flight , made me think immediately of DVT.

[fight4my3sons]

23. I agree with you.

I have a blood clotting disorder and DVT is one thing I have to be aware of on long trips.

[Phx_Dem]

27. That is exactly

what I was thinking after hearing he just got back from Italy and didn't have any apparent heart trouble.

[bluedawg12]

29. that would be PE- thought of that, also. But last week he looked

very puffy around the eyes- I even wondered if he had renal problems or HTN?

Either way...RIP.

[zulchzulu]

30. Apparently he had some health issues but was quiet about it

Tom Brokaw mentioned in his interview with Keith Olbermann that weight was an issue and that Tim had some heart-related issues that were pending to get treated. He also had done five commencement speeches very recently and had traveled to Italy for his son's graduation and had been keeping a very busy schedule.

I think about how Jim Lehrer had a massive heart attack and lived and decided to not feel bad about taking several naps during the day to slow down his stressful schedule.

It could have been DVT with a combination of just a lot of stress and burning the candle at both ends.

I just hope the recordings when he was in session are long gone. We don't need that as the epilogue to his life.