Remembering Bill Moyers: Peace Corps Co-Founder and Voice for Truth
Peace Corps Co-Founder and Deputy Director, Legendary Journalist Dead at 91
June 26, 2025
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Bill Moyers, one of the founding architects of the Peace Corps and a distinguished journalist who spent more than five decades shaping American broadcast journalism. Moyers died today at age 91 in a New York City hospital, marking the end of an extraordinary career that began with his pivotal role in establishing one of America's most cherished international service programs and evolved into a legacy of thoughtful, provocative journalism.
A Life of Service and Storytelling
Born Billy Don Moyers in Hugo, Oklahoma, on June 5, 1934, Moyers rose from humble beginnings as the son of a dirt farmer and truck driver to become one of America's most respected voices in journalism. His journey began in high school when, too small for football, he discovered his calling writing about it for the school paper. "I found that by writing sports in the school newspaper, the players were always waiting around at the newsstand to see what I wrote," he once recalled.
From Peace Corps Pioneer to Public Broadcasting
Moyers' career took him through the highest levels of American government and media. In 1961, after President John F. Kennedy proposed the idea for the Peace Corps, Moyers—then a close aide to Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson—was appointed as the agency's first Associate Director for Public Affairs. In this crucial role, he was instrumental in shaping the Peace Corps' public image and messaging, helping to rally support for the bold new initiative that sent young Americans abroad to serve in developing countries.
His effectiveness in building public support for the Peace Corps led to his promotion to Deputy Director in 1962, working directly under Sargent Shriver. Together, they helped secure funding and build the organizational structure for what would become one of America's most enduring international service programs. Moyers' background in journalism and theology, combined with his deep belief in civic service, made him uniquely suited for these foundational leadership roles.
His experience with the Peace Corps helped launch his long career as a public intellectual and journalist, where he continued to champion the ideals of service, justice, and democratic engagement. After Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, Moyers transitioned to become special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson, later serving as White House Press Secretary from 1965 to 1967. During his time in the Johnson administration, he was instrumental in shaping Great Society programs aimed at alleviating poverty and fostering racial justice.
However, it was his growing disillusionment with the Vietnam War that led him to leave the White House in December 1966. "We had become a war government, not a reform government, and there was no creative role left for me under those circumstances," he later reflected.
A Pioneer of Thoughtful Television
After leaving politics, Moyers found his true calling in broadcast journalism, particularly with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), where he produced some of television's most cerebral and provocative series. Beginning with "This Week with Bill Moyers" in 1971, he went on to create hundreds of hours of programming that proved television could be a medium for serious ideas and meaningful discourse.
His approach to journalism was unique in an age of sound bites and sensationalism. Moyers specialized in what the industry calls "talking heads" – extended interviews that allowed for deep exploration of complex topics. "The question is, are the talking heads thinking minds and thinking people? Are they interesting to watch?" he once explained. "I think the most fascinating production value is the human face."
Award-Winning Excellence
Throughout his career, Moyers was recognized with numerous honors that reflected his commitment to journalistic excellence:
More than 30 Emmy Awards
11 George Foster Peabody Awards
Three George Polk Awards
Two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Gold Baton Awards for career excellence
Induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995
A Legacy of Ideas
Moyers' programming covered an extraordinary range of subjects, from government corruption to modern dance, from drug addiction to environmental issues, and from religion to media consolidation. His series "Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth" introduced millions of viewers to comparative mythology, while "A World of Ideas" featured 42 interviews with leading thinkers of the time.
His early work establishing the Peace Corps demonstrated his lifelong commitment to public service and international understanding. Reflecting on the Peace Corps years, Moyers once said: "We knew from the beginning that the Peace Corps was not an agency, program, or mission. Now we know—from those who lived and died for it—that it is a way of being in the world." At the 50th Anniversary celebration, he called those years "the best years of our lives."
He demonstrated an unwavering belief in the power of conversation and understanding. As one critic noted, Moyers relied on "an unfailing faith that if people will just talk to each other, get together on issues, everything can be worked out."
Personal Reflections
Those who knew Moyers described him as a humanist who investigated the world with calm, reasoned perspective, whatever the subject. His soft, probing interview style, delivered in the native Texas accent he never lost, made complex ideas accessible to viewers across America.
Despite the occasional criticism that labeled him as too liberal, Moyers remained committed to his vision of journalism as a force for enlightenment and democratic discourse. He once said of public broadcasting, "We became a central part of the American consciousness and a valuable institution within our culture."
Final Chapter
Moyers is survived by his wife, three children – Suzanne Moyers, John D. Moyers, and William Cope Moyers – six grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. He authored about a dozen books, many adapted from his television programs, ensuring his ideas and insights will continue to influence future generations.
Bill Moyers leaves behind a remarkable legacy: a body of work that elevated television journalism, championed the power of ideas, and demonstrated that in our complex world, thoughtful conversation remains one of our most powerful tools for understanding each other and ourselves.
His passing represents not just the loss of a great journalist, but the end of an era when television could serve as a genuine forum for the nation's most important conversations. In a time of increasing polarization and decreasing attention spans, Bill Moyers' example reminds us of what journalism at its best can accomplish – illuminating truth, fostering understanding, and enriching the democratic dialogue that sustains our society.
Services and memorial arrangements will be announced by the family.
I remember Bill speakiing at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Peace Corps in D.C. He identified as one of us--interested in camaraderie with the world. He was only 8 years older than most of us who'd served! I watched everything he presented on NPR and elsewhere, including the Joseph Campbell talks on myths. It's like he carried me along with his viewpoints from 1964, when I joined the Peace Corps, until the present day. His integrity and voice will be missed. Evelyn Kohl LaTorre, Peru 64-66
I was inspired by Moyers. I admired him as a journalist. I wanted to work with him. I filmed his speech at the 25th Anniversary of Peace Corps. Once I directly met and told him how much I wanted to work with him. He said I would have to give up activism. I couldn't. But I continued to watch him over the years. He continued to inspire me -
even this year with his excellent doc that followed the life of a family over many years. I am sure he inspired so many others. I feel grateful to have had the chance to learn from his work.