Bill Moyers, a former White House press secretary to Lyndon B. Johnson who became the thoughtful voice of public television, has died. He was 91.
Moyers died in a New York City hospital on June 26 following a “long illness” and complications from prostate cancer, his longtime friend Tom Johnson, the former CEO of CNN, confirmed. Tom Johnson was an assistant to Moyers during Lyndon Johnson’s administration and compared his former boss to past legends of broadcast journalism, such as CBS’s legendary Edward R. Murrow.
“In five decades of broadcast journalism, Bill reached the very highest standards of excellence in journalism. I believe he reached the same stature as Edward R. Murrow,” Johnson tells USA TODAY. “He was one of President Johnson’s most trusted advisors and in many ways was the son that LBJ never had.”
Moyers won 35 Emmy Awards in his storied career, primarily for his work on PBS as host of “Frontline” and “Bill Moyers Journal.” His career was punctuated by the 1988 landmark series, “Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth,” a series of six one-hour interviews with Campbell, the prominent mythologist and religious scholar. The accompanying book became a national bestseller, with both series popularizing Campbell’s phrase, “Follow your bliss.”
“Not only was Bill a journalist of the highest caliber, he played an essential role in the creation of PBS as a trusted aide to President Johnson,” PBS chief Paula Kerger said in a statement. “It was my privilege to work closely with him for over three decades, and I was always inspired by the clarity of his vision and his unwavering commitment to the ideals that continue to inspire public media. Bill was always of service: as a journalist, a mentor, and a fierce champion for PBS. He fought for excellence and honesty in our public discourse, and was always willing to take on the most important issues of the day with curiosity and compassion. While he will be greatly missed, we will continue to carry his legacy forward in service to the American people.”
This story is developing.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Moyers, PBS journalist and LBJ aide, dead at 91
