A full crowd filled the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for an invitation-only memorial service for Tim Russert, kicked off by retired news anchor Tom Brokaw hoisting a Rolling Rock beer, and closed by rocker Bruce Springsteen live via satellite from Europe singing "Promised Land."

The song and the beer were favorites of Russert, who died Friday of a heart attack at the age of 58.

Mourners were welcomed into the concert hall by songs from Russert's iPod, including Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird."

"We are going to do it Irish style," Brokaw said. "There will be some tears, some laughs, and the occasional truth."

Among those offering funny, poignant, personal and political stories were former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former NBC reporter Maria Shriver, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and political commentator Mike Barnicle.

"He regarded a day greeted without real enthusiasm as a sadly lost opportunity," said Cuomo, the former New York governor for whom Russert worked as an aide in the early 1980s.

There were also enough TV journalists and political strategists to fill several political roundtables. Among the honorary pallbearers were NBC News anchor Brian Williams, "Today" show host Matt Lauer and Bryant Gumbel.

Before the gathering at the Kennedy Center, a private funeral was attended by members of the media, lawmakers and several generations of politicians, there were the two men vying to become the next president of the United States.

Presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain even sat next to each other, per a request by the Russert family.

Russert's 22-year-old son, Luke, gave the eulogy, which he described as his father's last speech.

He urged parents to hug their children and politicians to avoid "low tactics." He also asked the crowd to imagine a special edition of "Meet the Press" in heaven, perhaps with a debate between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, or John F. Kennedy and Barry Goldwater.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick delivered the homily. Washington's archbishop emeritus said it wasn't an easy task, because Russert "was truly one of the great communicators in American society." McCarrick said he would pray that NBC's "Meet the Press" host is "now sitting at the large table of the Lord to begin a conversation which will last forever."

On Tuesday, hundreds of friends, colleagues and strangers joined President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, in paying respects to Russert at a wake.

Several hundred people were in line more than an hour before the early afternoon start of the wake at St. Albans School, an elite private boys school on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral in Northwest Washington where Russert's son, Luke, was a student. Many had never met the host of the Sunday-morning talk show "Meet the Press."

But some felt like they knew him, nonetheless.

"It's just like a family member that's gone," said Mary Jo Quinn, who had traveled from Russert's hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., to the Washington area for a wedding over the weekend. She and her husband extended their trip so they could attend the wake.

Since Russert's death, a steady stream of viewers has been leaving cards, flowers and personal mementos outside NBC's studios in northwest Washington, television station WRC reported.

Russert collapsed Friday as he was preparing to record voice-overs for Sunday's episode of "Meet the Press."

Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. MSNBC reported on its Web site that Russert’s physician, Michael Newman, said cholesterol plaque ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis. An autopsy revealed that he also had an enlarged heart, Newman said.

Russert had been diagnosed with asymptomatic coronary artery disease, which he was controlling with medication and exercise, the doctor said.

Russert had just returned from Italy, where he was on vacation with his wife and son to celebrate his son's graduation from college.

Cleveland Remembers Russert

Russert also will be remembered in the Cleveland area, where he attended college and law school.

A Mass, described as a celebration of Russert's life, was scheduled for noon Wednesday in Saint Francis Chapel at John Carroll University.

Russert was a student body president at the suburban Cleveland school. He graduated in 1972, going on to Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, where he earned his law degree.