Bill Moyers, an unparalleled voice in American journalism and former White House Press Secretary, passed away on June 26, 2025, at the age of 91 in New York City, following a long illness. His passing marks the end of a remarkable era in public affairs and media.
🌟 From Humble Beginnings to Presidential Proximity
Born Billy Don Moyers on June 5, 1934, in Hugo, Oklahoma, Moyers was raised in Marshall, Texas, where he started writing for his high school newspaper—kickstarting a journalistic path that would lead him to Washington and beyond.
🏛️ At the Heart of Power: Serving LBJ
Moyers’ 1954 letter to Senator Lyndon B. Johnson secured him a summer internship, leading to roles under Johnson that included Special Assistant, Deputy Director of the Peace Corps, and ultimately White House Press Secretary (1965–1967). He famously rode on Air Force One during the chaotic transition after JFK’s assassination.
Disillusioned by the Vietnam War, he resigned in December 1966, stating, “We had become a war government, not a reform government”.
🎙️ Championing Public Broadcasting
After leaving the White House, Moyers transitioned to media, becoming publisher of Newsday—which won two Pulitzer Prizes during his leadership. He then moved to television at CBS and PBS, creating and hosting influential programs like Bill Moyers Journal, NOW with Bill Moyers, and Moyers & Company. He also founded Public Affairs Television with his wife Judith in 1986.
🧭 A Journalist Who Spoke Truth to Power
Moyers exposed government corruption in The Secret Government (coverage of Iran-Contra), connected deeply in Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth, and remained steadfast in his pursuit of democracy and justice.
He described himself as a “citizen journalist,” criticizing corporate media for prioritizing profit over truth .
🏆 Awards & Enduring Influence
Moyers was honored with 35 Emmy Awards, 11 Peabody Awards, 3 Polk Awards, the DuPont-Columbia Gold Baton (twice), and induction into the Television Hall of Fame (1995).
Even at 91, he remained active in media—his final FRONTLINE documentary, Two American Families, won an Emmy on the day he passed. That series offered a poignant exploration of working-class life in America over more than 30 years.
🤝 A Legacy of Integrity
Moyers is remembered as a warm, intellectual, and principled force who elevated American public discourse. His unwavering belief in journalism's role as democracy's watchdog is more relevant than ever .
His daughter Suzanne, son William, and wife Judith survive him—carrying forward his mission of public service and thoughtful conversation.
📝 Final Thoughts
Bill Moyers taught us that news isn’t just about facts—it’s about context, ethics, and humanity. His powerful, empathetic storytelling reminded viewers that journalism can be an instrument of truth, compassion, and societal progress.
In an age of fractured media, Moyers' example shines as a call to anchor our stories in integrity, civic duty, and intellectual curiosity.
“A society, a democracy can die of too many lies,” he cautioned in 2019. Bill Moyers dedicated his life to ensuring we didn’t forget that lesson.
