My day job is as a managing director in a public relations firm. Many of my colleagues and I know many people in the media because that's one of the things we're paid to do. But many of us knew Tim Russert because we wanted to.

I first met him about 30 years ago when he interviewed me to be Senator Patrick Moynihan's budget staffer. His questions were tough even then and I didn't get the job. He interviewed many clients and friends over the years since then and preparing for a Meet The Press interview was always one of the most intensive things I ever had to help them do.

My most recent meeting with Tim was at the Meet The Press 50th anniversary celebration. I was hardly the most important person in the room, or even the 500th most important person in the room. But he greeted me and the BTW with a sense of style and appreciation for our being there that made us both feel special.