In Memoriam

Statement from the Russert family on the passing of Timothy Joseph Russert - grandfather of NBC's Luke Russert, father of the late Tim Russert:

"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Timothy Joseph Russert. While he was affectionately known to the world as "Big Russ," he carried no more important nor meaningful titles than those of father, grandfather, great-grandfather, patriot and friend. He passed peacefully with his family at his side from natural causes at the age of 85.

We warmly thank all those who were inspired by his life and his lessons.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer's Association so that the world may move closer to finding a cure for this sad affliction.

We ask for privacy as funeral arrangments are pending."

The Russert Family

A remembrance cocktail hour for former Carter White House press secretary Jody Powell has been scheduled for next Wednesday at 5:30pm at Old Ebbitt Grill. The location was chosen because it's where Powell Tate launched in 1991. This is an open invitation.

Powell died of a heart attack Monday at the age of 65.

Former Carter White House press secretary Jody Powell died of a heart attack this afternoon, ABC News, and other outlets, report. He was 65.

>>UPDATE: Current White House press secretary Robert Gibbs issued this statement:

Statement from the Press Secretary on the Passing of Press Secretary to President Carter Jody Powell

"I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Jody Powell. As Press Secretary to President Carter, Jody served his country during a difficult time, and he always did the job with grace and good humor. When I needed advice at the start of my own tenure as Press Secretary, he was always generous with his time and wise in his counsel. I'll miss his support and encouragement, and I'll be keeping him and his family in my thoughts and prayers."

We just heard this sad news from C-SPAN... C-SPAN's Ken Dyball passed away last Thursday after an extended illness. Dyball was a graphics designer and had worked at C-SPAN since June 1997. He had previously worked at CNN, ABC, WCBS-TV and WPIX-TV in NY. Dyball is survived by his wife Sharon and their two children.

After remembrances by sons Teddy Jr. and Patrick Kennedy, President Obama delivered a eulogy at the funeral service of Senator Edward Kennedy. We hear that former Kennedy staffer Cody Keenan, senior advisor David Axelrod and speech writer Jon Favreau helped Obama craft this eulogy.

The text of the President's eulogy is also on TedKennedy.org.

This is the cover of the program for the funeral this morning of Senator Edward Kennedy, as shared by the family on Twitter and TedKennedy.org.

Four Presidents- Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter- three Vice Presidents- Joe Biden, Al Gore and Dan Quayle- countless Senators and Congressmen, as well of members of the administration- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eric Holder- are with the family of Senator Kennedy at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Health.

David Gregory, Tom Brokaw, Al Hunt and Judy Woodruff, Maureen Orth and Luke Russert are among those members of the press attending the funeral as guests.

David McCullough, Tony Bennett, Jack Nicholson and Boston Celtics' Bill Russell are also in attendance.

Politico's Mike Allen is in Boston and shares this glimpse into the JFK Library where Senator Kennedy will lie in repose this later today and tomorrow, and where his Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place tomorrow evening.

What we know:

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton will brief the WH press corps traveling with the President at 1:30pm at Oak Bluffs filing center.

President Obama will attend and speak at tomorrow's Celebration of Life memorial service. The First Lady will also attend.

Pool Report from the Boston Globe's Jenna Russell:

Just before noon -- about two dozen motorcycle police from Barnstable, Brockton, and the state lined up outside the Kennedy compound. A half-dozen empty black limousines and several black Cadillac Escalade SUVs rolled into the compound, preparing to pick up family members for the procession to Boston.

Inside the home, family members gathered for a private Mass as the senator lay in repose.

Dozens of media tested microphones and watched closely of any sign of activity. Children in bathing suits and towels around their necks watched from the porches of neighboring houses.

12:38 p.m. -- The Mass is underway inside the residence, a woman in a black dress was visible through the front window, a child in her arms with the child's arms around her neck ... a flag flew at half-mast in the center of the circular driveway surrounded by clusters of fading brown hydrangeas...a handful of neighbors are watching quietly behind a white picket fence...uniformed members of an honor guard gathered at the side of the white-shingled, green-shuttered house, then moved to the front porch.

12:49 p.m. -- Still holding at the Kennedy home.

The Mass is being held in the "fun room." It's overlooking the ocean, and it's the room the family traditionally holds Mass in. Officiating at the Mass is Donald MacMillan from Boston College. The honor guard has nine members representing all branches of service from Washington D.C. They're described as Armed Forces body bearers.

1:47 p.m.

Senator Kennedy left his beloved Cape home for the last time. Two members of the honor guard rolled the casket, draped in an American flag. On the driveway, the full honor guard lifted the casket from its platform, and stepped slowly in formation down the driveway.

There were many remembrances today of Senator Ted Kennedy. Here are just some from DC journos that caught our eye...

• Above, Bob Schieffer and Boston Globe's Tom Oliphant share memories of years of covering Senator Kennedy on CBS' daily webcast "Washington Unplugged."

• "Meet the Press" executive producer Betsy Fischer shares a special interview Senator Kennedy did with Tim Russert on the 60th anniversary of NBC's Sunday show, discussing his long history with the show and his first appearance at age 30.

• George Stephanopoulos reported on the Senator's passing and legacy on all ABC platforms today-- TVNewser notes ABC was first with the news at 1:18am. Here's his blog.

>>MORE:

• Chris Matthews- whose special "The Kennedy Brothers" aired on MSNBC a night earlier than planned- penned this piece "The Ted Kennedy I Knew" for The Daily Beast.

• Joe Klein for Time: "How Ted Kennedy Found Himself."

• On "Nightline," ABC's congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl recounted his personal interaction with Senator Kennedy after Karl and his family survived a car accident: "The very first call I got from somebody was not part of my immediate family. It was a call from Ted Kennedy. And the minute that I heard that voice and -- regardless of what he was saying, I remember smiling." (h/t TVNewser)

Legendary Vanity Fair correspondent Dominick Dunne succumbed to bladder cancer in his Manhattan home today. He was 83.

An online tribute to Dunne has already been posted. Also included on the page: Kennedy, Jackson and Fawcett.