Three years after his death, the memory of Tim Russert and his affection for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington is very much alive. BGCGW hosted its 26th Annual Tim Russert Congressional Dinner at the JW Marriott hotel on Wednesday night. The event, renamed after the long-running “Meet the Press” host in 2010, raises money for the organization’s education programs. Russert’s son Luke, an NBC reporter who emceed the dinner this year and last, talked to Yeas & Nays about his father’s past role in the fundraiser. “It was definitely the seminal event for him in Washington,” he told us. “It was one that he looked forward to every year. He was very much involved from everything to the planning committee to what food would be served.”
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House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who was honored at the Wednesday night event, shared a few touching remarks about the veteran newsman. “Everyone in this town has a Tim Russert story. He’s just one of those people who had a talent for getting to know an awful lot of people,” a teary-eyed Boehner said.
He also used the opportunity to take a playful jab at Luke. “During the big budget debate last month, I introduced Luke to the American people as ‘Loud Mouth,’ ” he joked. “[Luke’s] got a talent for making himself heard — even when he’s not around, I can hear him out in the hallway going, ‘Mr. Speaker! Mr. Speaker!’ ” Boehner said to laughter.
Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., and former Redskins defensive back Brig Owens also attended the event.
