Luke Russert pays tribute to his father, Tim, in 'Today' show interview

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/06/16/2008-06-16_luke_russert_pays_tribute_to_his_father_.html

By HELEN KENNEDY
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, June 16th 2008, 2:47 PM

Tim Russert's son Luke displayed his father's jaunty good spirits Monday morning in a "Today" show interview that was notably un-mawkish - even when he described a relationship so close that he got a tattoo of his father's initials.

Luke Russert, 22, said he got himself secretly inked five years ago after he snuck a look at a moving manuscript his dad was writing about fathers and sons. His dad was shocked when he found out.


Wong/Getty
Luke Russert, 22, touches his father's empty moderator's chair on the set of 'Meet The Press.' Later he told 'Today': 'I just wanted to hug that chair. I'm going to keep that chair forever.'


"Here's my advice to the kids of America," Luke Russert said, with his dad's twinkle in his eye. "If you get a tattoo, show it to your parents on Christmas."

He said he got the letters "TJR" - the initials of both his father and grandfather - inked on his torso so that "they're on my side and they'll be there forever."

He said his relationship with his dad, the host of NBC's "Meet the Press" who died of heart failure Friday at age 58, was so close that they talked two or three times a day.

Until graduation last month, the elder Russert frequently visited his son at Boston College, flying in authentic chicken wings from Buffalo.

FULL story at link.

[ailsagirl]

1. A touching and powerful picture...