Bill Moyers, a titan in journalism and public service, leaves behind a legacy that’s hard to match, or perhaps ever rival.
At a Glance
● Bill Moyers, the acclaimed broadcast journalist and former White House Press Secretary for President Lyndon B. Johnson, has died at the age of 91.
● He passed away in New York on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after a long illness.
● His celebrated career in journalism at CBS and PBS earned him more than 35 Emmy Awards and 11 Peabody Awards.
● Moyers left the Johnson administration in 1967 due to his opposition to the Vietnam War.
A Storied Career in Journalism and Public Service
Bill Moyers, whose celebrated career took him from the heights of political power as a top
presidential aide to the vanguard of American broadcast journalism, has died at the age of 91. According to Reuters, he passed away at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York after a long illness.
Born in Oklahoma in 1934 and raised in Texas, Moyers’s remarkable journey began as a young aide on Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1954 senate campaign. His close relationship with LBJ eventually led him to the West Wing, where he served as White House Press Secretary from 1965 to 1967. However, his tenure was cut short by his growing disillusionment with the Vietnam War, a principled stand that would define the rest of his career.
From the White House to the Public Square
After leaving politics, Moyers transitioned to broadcast journalism, where he became one of the most respected voices in television news. He left an indelible mark through his work at CBS and, most notably, at PBS, where he hosted influential programs like “Bill Moyers Journal.” He and his wife, Judith, later founded their own production company, Public Affairs Television, in 1986, creating thought-provoking content that explored the core issues facing the nation.
His dedication to the craft was recognized with numerous accolades, including more than 35 Emmy Awards and 11 Peabody Awards. He also served as publisher of the Long Island
newspaper Newsday from 1970 to 1974, a period during which the publication won two Pulitzer Prizes.
A Legacy of Integrity and Truth
Throughout his career, Moyers was a fierce advocate for a free press and a sharp critic of the corporatization of media, which he saw as a threat to an informed democracy. In one of his final interviews, he reflected on his long career and his concerns for the country’s future. “I was born in the Depression, lived through World War II, and have been a part of politics and government for all these years,” Moyers said, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
He demonstrated that journalism could hold power accountable while remaining unflinchingly committed to factual, in-depth reporting. His passing marks the end of an era, but his work remains a benchmark for journalistic integrity and a powerful reminder of the media’s vital role in a functioning democracy.
