At 5:23pmET, ABC's Barbara Walters appeared on MSNBC by phone to comment on the death of Tim Russert, who described the "grief the country's going to face." She also issued a statement:

There is no one who knew Tim, and that includes millions of Americans who felt they knew him too, who isn't deeply shocked and saddened by his death. Tim was everyone's idea of what a journalist should be and he made us proud. He interviewed me just one month ago for his weekly television show and much of our conversation had to do with his love for his father, Russ, and his son, Luke. My heart goes out to his wife, Maureen, and to Luke and Russ.