Russert did not mention statement from Salmon Press co-owner regarding Clinton's comments on Reagan

Summary: On Meet the Press, Tim Russert asserted: "[T]he Salmon Press in New Hampshire, which endorsed Hillary Clinton, cited as one of the reasons, that when they talked to her in the interview, she listed Ronald Reagan as one of her favorite presidents." However, neither Russert nor his guests noted a January 18 statement from the co-owner of Salmon Press Newspapers that Clinton "did not say Reagan was her favorite President. She didn't say anything close to that."

On the January 20 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, host Tim Russert asserted: "[T]he Salmon Press in New Hampshire, which endorsed Hillary Clinton, cited as one of the reasons, that when they talked to her in the interview, she listed Ronald Reagan as one of her favorite presidents." Russert was referring to a December 12, 2007, Salmon Press editorial, which stated that Clinton's "list of favorite presidents -- Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, Truman, George H.W. Bush and Reagan -- demonstrates how she thinks. As expected, Bill Clinton was also included on the aforementioned list." However, neither Russert nor his guests -- former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Newsweek editor Jon Meacham, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, and National Public Radio host Michele Norris -- noted a January 18 statement from David Cutler, the co-owner of Salmon Press Newspapers, that Clinton "did not say Reagan was her favorite President. She didn't say anything close to that."

From Cutler's statement, featured on Clinton's website:

The question posed was originally what portraits would you hang in the White House if you were President and as the dialogue progressed, who are the presidents you admire most?

She [Sen. Clinton] listed several presidents that she admired and mentioned she liked Reagan's communication skills. She did not say Reagan was her favorite President. She didn't say anything close to that.

From the January 20 edition of NBC's Meet the Press:

RUSSERT: Interestingly enough, the Salmon Press in New Hampshire, which endorsed Hillary Clinton, cited as one of the reasons that, when they talked to her in the interview, she listed Ronald Reagan as one of her favorite presidents.

—Media Matters staff