NEW YORK — Renowned journalist Bill Moyers, who transitioned from the role of White House press secretary to become a respected figure in television journalism, passed away on Thursday at the age of 91. He spent his final moments in a New York City hospital, as confirmed by his son, William, attributing his father’s passing to a prolonged illness endured at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Moyers’ multifaceted career ventured through realms as diverse as serving as a youthful Baptist minister, the deputy director of the Peace Corps, and a press secretary under the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson. He also took on roles as newspaper publisher and senior news analyst for “The CBS Evening News,” culminating in his position as the chief correspondent for “CBS Reports.”
His legacy is most vibrantly defined by his work on public television, where he produced thought-provoking series addressing subjects from the intricacies of government corruption to the expressive art of modern dance. His work also delved into challenging topics such as drug addiction, media consolidation, religion, and environmental issues, crafting content that resonated with intellectual curiosity.
A landmark in Moyers’ career was the production of “The Secret Government” in 1988, dissecting the complexities of the Iran-Contra scandal during the Reagan era. Concurrently, he published a book with the same title. Around this period, his series “Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth” became a cultural touchstone, with his interviews with the esteemed religious scholar captivating audiences and spawning a best-selling book.
Notable also were his on-screen conversations with poet Robert Bly, which notably contributed to the birth of the 1990s Men’s Movement. Additionally, his 1993 series “Healing and the Mind” had a significant influence on the medical field and education.
Moyers, despite operating in a medium traditionally averse to “talking heads,” excelled in this format, arguing that the engagement of thinking individuals could create captivating television: “The question is, are the talking heads thinking minds and thinking people? Are they interesting to watch? I think the most fascinating production value is the human face,” he once asserted.
Though often accused of liberal bias due to his associations and outspoken investigative work, Moyers embraced the liberal label—at least to the extent that it signified openness to varied perspectives. He identified more with the term “citizen journalist,” reveling in the independence afforded to him outside mainstream media’s constraints.
The independence that public television allowed him was critical, as it enabled Moyers to engage deeply with democracy’s conversational spectrum. This ethos sharply contrasted with the commercial television sphere, where Moyers felt that corporate pressures often muted journalistic enterprise.
Among his accolades, Moyers garnered more than 30 Emmys, 11 George Foster Peabody awards, three George Polk awards, and twice received the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Gold Baton Award for career excellence.
Born June 5, 1934, in Hugo, Oklahoma, Billy Don Moyers later simplified his name for his journalism pursuits which commenced at a remarkably young age in Texas. He cut his teeth writing for his high school newspaper, and his career trajectory would ultimately steer him far from his initial vocation as a Baptist minister, pivoting instead toward journalism and public service.
Moyers’ association with Lyndon B. Johnson began during his college years and subsequently solidified into a professional collaboration that saw Moyers ascend to the role of press secretary amidst the turbulent Vietnam War era, which also led to his decision to resign from the position in 1966.
Post-White House, Moyers injected fresh vitality into Long Island’s Newsday, enhancing its investigative and news analysis dimensions before cementing his future in public television—a move that allowed him to align his skillset with his ideals. Television became Moyers’ canvas for storytelling, and through his own production company, he and his wife Judith Davidson Moyers sustained the creation of notable programs aligning with their vision.
In the new millennium, Moyers remained active, taking on relevant contemporary issues through programs like “Now” on PBS, a revamped “Bill Moyers Journal,” and insightful discussions through podcasts.
He was steadfastly supported throughout his life by his wife, Judith, whom he married in 1954. Together they raised three children, each of whom carried on the legacy of intellectual and creative pursuit, among them Suzanne Moyers, an author, and William Cope Moyers, an author and TV producer.