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.
Sept. 26, 2007: Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate
During a debate at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Russert springs a trap, reading Hillary Clinton a statement condoning the torture of enemy combatants before revealing it was her husband's.
