Bill Moyers, former White House press secretary for Lyndon B. Johnson, has passed away, who has become a thoughtful voice on public television. He was 91 years old.
Moyers passed away on June 26th at a New York City hospital after a “long illness” and complications of prostate cancer, confirmed by his longtime friend Tom Johnson, a former CEO of CNN. Tom Johnson was Moyers’ assistant during the Lyndon Johnson administration, and said his former boss deserves a “major Journalist Mount Rushmore” spot like CBS legend Edward R. Murrow.
“In 50 years of broadcast journalism, Bill has reached the bar for the highest excellence in journalism. I think he has reached the same height as Edward R. Murrow,” Johnson tells USA Today. “He was one of President Johnson’s most trusted advisors and in many ways the son LBJ didn’t have.”
Moyers has won 35 Emmy Awards for his celebrity career, mainly for his work with PBS as host of “Frontline” and “Bill Moyers Journal.” His career was separated by the groundbreaking 1988 series, “Joseph Campbell and the Power of Mythology.” This is a series of six one-hour interviews with prominent mythologist and religious scholar Campbell. The attached book is both series that popularize Campbell’s phrase “Follow Your Bliss,” and has become a national bestseller.
“Bill was not only the best caliber journalist, but also played an integral role in the creation of PBS as President Johnson’s trustworthy,” PBS chief Paula Carger said in a statement. “It was my privilege to work closely with him for over 30 years. I was always inspired by the clarity of his vision and the unwavering commitment to ideals that continue to inspire the public media. Bill has always been a service thing. As a journalist, mentor, and a fierce champion of PBS. Missed, we will continue to serve Americans with his legacy.”
Billy Don Moyers was born in Hugo, Oklahoma on June 5, 1934, and Moyers, the son of a dirt farmer and truck driver, dropped “Y” from his first name when he went to his first job in journalism as a turnip reporter at 16, Marshall, Texas.
Moyers’ career took on the roles from Baptist pastor to Deputy Director of the Peace Corps to Johnson’s Press Secretary, from 1965 to 67. Tom Johnson said Moyers played a pivotal role in shaping President Johnson’s “Great Society” task force and historic legislation. Moyers left the Johnson administration after raising disagreements with the president about America’s escalating involvement in the Vietnam War.
In 1967, Moyers was a member of the Carnegie Committee of Educational Television, which encouraged the creation of public broadcasting systems. The recommendations in the report led to the passing of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which approved the establishment of a company for public broadcasting.
As the publisher of the Long Island-based Newsday newspaper from 1967 to 1970, Moyers recruited legendary journalists such as Pete Hamill, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Saul Bellow, winning two Pulitzer Prizes for the paper. “His time on ‘Newsday’ was pretty amazing,” Johnson says.
Moyers was a senior news analyst and commentator for “CBS Evening News” and a lead correspondent for “CBS Report.”
In addition to Emmy’s victory, Moyers was awarded two Alfred I. Dupont Columbia University Awards, nine Peabody Awards and three George Polk Awards. Moyers also received his first Honorary Doctoral Degree from the American Film Institute. In 2013, Moyers hosted the wedding of “Star Wars” creator George Lucas and CBS news reporter Melody Hobson.
Moyers was survived by his wife and frequent producer Judith Davidson Moyers, president of the production company, and three children.
