Russert sought advice from "Meet the Press" founder Spivak, who had been responsible for the program's previous pre-eminence. Spivak told him to question all guests as his adversaries, no matter what their political and ideological orientation. Russert could not abandon his liberal Democratic mindset 41 years in the making, but he could -- and did -- keep it hidden on Sunday mornings.

Because of Russert's preparation, appearing on "Meet the Press" was like a visit to the dentist. Prominent politicians, such as John Edwards and Hillary Clinton, thought they could avoid this ordeal. But none did. I know this because I talked with Russert on the telephone two or three times a month.

Tim and I disagreed on tax policy and other issues, but we never debated over the phone. Instead, we exchanged political information, and I usually was the recipient. He supplied for use in my column news tidbits he could not use. During my half century of journalism, he was the only colleague who was a source.

Russert and I were both uncomfortable about being witnesses, for different reasons, in the Valerie Plame CIA leak case, but we never discussed it. He always supported me, despite demands that he throw me overboard. When my memoir was published last year, Russert was generous in granting me abundant time on "Meet the Press" and his own MSNBC program.

So, I lost a friend. But in Illinois last weekend to attend a banquet of the American College of Surgeons in Chicago and my 60th high school reunion in Joliet, I was moved by grief of people who had never met Tim Russert but felt a personal sense of loss. That made him unique among journalists and indeed today's Washington personages.