For nearly 17 years, the spot opposite Tim Russert on NBC's Meet the Press was the hottest seat in politics. Trained as a lawyer, Russert brought a flair of cross-examination to his interviews. Following his sudden death at age 58, TIME revisits Russert's knack for making Washington's coolest customers squirm.
February, 26 2008: Democratic Debate in Cleveland
Russert puts Hillary Clinton on the spot by rattling off several instances in which she had previously supported the North American Free Trade Agreement, despite campaigning in Ohio on an anti-NAFTA platform.
