NEW YORK (AP) — NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell has paid tribute on “Meet the Press” to its abruptly departed host, David Gregory.

Mitchell told viewers Sunday that the long-running public-affairs show has made a lot of history and that a large share was made with Gregory at the helm. She said Gregory had been “true to the traditions of the program and NBC News.”

Gregory had been at NBC News for two decades and host of “Meet the Press” since 2008. Last week he announced he was leaving the network amid sinking ratings for the program. Prior to his tenure, it had been the ratings leader.

Mitchell was filling in as host.

NBC political director Chuck Todd takes over as permanent host Sept. 7.

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