AP News, February 8th, 2007
Tim Russert made it onto the evening news on Wednesday _ and not just on NBC. The "Meet the Press" host's key testimony at the perjury trial of former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was covered on all three network evening newscasts, although Russert was less visible on ABC and CBS.
On the stand, Russert contradicted Libby's earlier claim that Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff was told that Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson's wife worked for the CIA in a phone conversation with the NBC newsman.
Russert said he didn't know who Wilson was at the time of the conversation.
"The prosecutor put its key witness on the stand today, who just happens to be one of our colleagues, Washington bureau chief and moderator of `Meet the Press' Tim Russert," NBC "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams said introducing the broadcast's report.
Following the two minute, 52 second report from correspondent Kelly O'Donnell, Williams explained to viewers that Russert has been instructed by lawyers not to talk on the "Nightly News" about the case until it ends.
NBC reported a pointed barb from Libby attorney Theodore Wells, who questioned whether Russert would have Cheney's chief of staff on the telephone and not ask him one question about the hot issue of faulty intelligence.
Russert said he treated Libby's call as a complaint call _ the vice presidential aide was angry about something MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews had been saying.
On ABC's "World News," anchor Charles Gibson's voiceover report on Russert's testimony lasted 48 seconds.
On the "CBS Evening News," where Russert's former colleague Katie Couric is the anchor, the story lasted two minutes, 15 seconds. One hitch, though: it was one minute, 34 seconds into the report before Russert's name was even mentioned.
Couric had framed the report as one updating viewers on the entire trial, and telegraphed disinterest.
"National political reporter Gloria Borger brings us up to date on the trial that has Washington insiders riveted and the rest of us scratching our heads," she said.
The lead story on all three broadcasts was the shooting down of an American helicopter in Iraq. Russert's testimony was the third story on "Nightly News" and given lower priority on the other broadcasts.
In his cross-examination, Wells asked Russert whether NBC paid him more than $5 million a year. The judge didn't let him answer that.
"Are you a valuable asset to the NBC corporation?" Wells asked.
"I hope so," Russert replied.
