Video Birthday Greetings

There are moments that change the world. You were in the New Mexico desert early on the morning of July 16, 1945 when the first nuclear explosion in human history went off. What went through your mind? First, the success of it, please, and then the horror of it. There are people who change the way we see ourselves. I say follow your bliss and don't be afraid and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be. There are stories that must be told. What happened? Nothing happened to me, but this little part, sharp wipe, I hit my side, I'm called little shot and picked up a rock and he was in the front of all these tall punkies, but he threw the rock.

He tried to hit my sister, but he almost hit me about that much away from me. Now sure was he a hit me with that rock, I'll pick up the rock right next to me and I'll raise them in faith. I mean, that's the way you treat an animal, I mean, God, we're human beings. You know, treat other people like that, it's just wrong. I don't care, person is a person, skin should have no bearing on how you treat a person. That's just wrong. I hate they got them, God. Some might call these talking heads, but what talk? The view of life, it never felt really safe when you simply cross the railroad tracks. You still had to go all this way, it's like an international tarmac or anybody could get you. You were really in the black part of town when you crossed that little bridge and the pond. Then you were safe.

Then if you didn't know everybody, at least everybody knew who you were, you know, and as a child, it was the chance to have some protection, and I used to have to walk over here. Oh, gosh, I hated it. I had no protection at all over them, I had an idea of protection. On this side, I had my grandmother on this side. I had the church, my uncle, and all my people were on this side. So I had an idea of protection, but then I would be all alone. And I loved it, causing those real real chaps. Bill, I tell you, to show you how much things don't change. I'm not even going to cross it with you now.

I don't really, I'm not doing this for any reason, then I really do not want to go across that. I really don't understand. So what are you thinking, right? You're still nice. You both be safe. Hey, Speaker. Hey, Speaker. Hey, Speaker. Hey, whoa, whoa. I feel warriors believe it or not. They wouldn't talk this way to anyone else. Giving people what they want is a very bad idea, most of the time. Do you give them what they want, or do you give them what they ought to have? No, it's a taboo question, because there is no answer to that question, under no circumstances. Did Shakespeare say to himself writing 12th night, now then is this what they want? Oh, now is this what they ought to have? Not at all. What he did was the writers, good a play as he possibly could, which he thoughtfully, he'd also make a living by, make enough to keep himself going and land a right another

one. That's what he did. And what's good enough for him is good enough for us. I get so much more pleasure out of hearing a Quincy True than I do reading the poem. Yes. You are resurrecting that language, or you are turning that language around right at the moment of creation and sending it into a whole new direction. Juke and dazzle, chicken baked down the lane, take the sucker to the hoop, Nancy Johnson, recreate reverse huddle, jams off the spin, deal out of you, dug a fine magician passes now, double pump, scissor, bam through space and hang in place, and put it all up in the sucker's face. Yeah. Magic Johnson and deal the round ball like the juju man that you am, like the show no shaman man that you am, magic, like the show no space man, you am. This is television that's more than entertainment. It's just a killer, right?

You know what they do? Oh, yeah. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. I want it. It's power. The power to change. We've come to America in a way to take over, to help build a new culture. The power to communicate. What I would ask America's today is to be brave. I mean, what I fear is that America is afraid of themselves and are afraid of each other. The power to heal. Show me how my gee flows. It's getting warm. It's getting warm. It's getting warm. Be careful. I feel good. Yes, yes, I did feel it like a blood flow. And, take us to our shod, you know. Yeah, that's right there.

Amen, indeed angels, chosen, smith, I have already come. Tis grace of broad, we see the sun, and grace is really made me home. And this is Bill Moyers.

Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Bill. Happy birthday to you. Hello Bill Moyers, surprise.

From the time we first met in 1969, I must say you have pleased me. You're not really surprised me. You have been bright and responsible and oftentimes very funny and dedicated. So, since you haven't surprised me, really, because you've just gotten better at what you do. This is the surprise for you for me. Thanks for all you have done to inform us and enrich our lives. Here's hoping that you're willing to share your unique talent for us for years to come. Bill, you embody the essence of public television. We're looking for great ideas and more great programs from you. And have a great birthday. We send our heartfelt thanks for your superb legacy.

And once again, happy birthday. I am really delighted to have this opportunity to say happy birthday and many, many thanks for everything you've done for all of us in public television for so many years and hopefully for many years to come. One night, I'm returning home from a meeting and Bill is walking with me and the man approaches us and asks for a handout and Bill digs into his pocket to give it to him. And the man looks up and suddenly this light of recognition goes on. And he says, aren't you on television? Aren't you Charles Carrot? So Bill nods, yes, he's on television. And suddenly the man stands up straight and an absolutely straightforward speech says, I know who you are, your Bill Moyers. I watch you all the time on public television. Your programs are just great.

Bill and I wondered to each other, where does he keep his television set? Bill, you chose a hell of a way to celebrate being 60, but I and all of us at the NewsHour wish you the most comfortable and speedy recovery possible and many happy returns of the birthday. Tonight's eye on a Moyers. Looks older, Texans, much older, older than they were yesterday. I think the days are flying by for you. Take a look at Bill Moyers. Bill is getting so old that people are starting to mistake him for me. I've known Bill since before he worked in the Johnson White House. We were both younger then. The difference is that with age, Bill at least has gotten Moiser. Since then, he's made a career of his conscience, bringing light and understanding to some of the most difficult topics facing this country. He's followed his bliss and brought a fair measure of bliss to the rest of us. We remember his thought provoking essays and analysis, his hard-hitting investigation of things in America that needed improving, but we remember his thinkers and poets and his amazing grace,

television, and all of us would be a lot poor without him. There he is, Bill Moyers. Always the visionary. I know what you're up to. The 60th birthday edition of Healing and the Mind, the Moyers Triumph. Happy birthday. Get well soon. Do you realize that we've been working together for almost 23 years? That's unbelievable. I just want to say how very proud I am to be your colleague and your friend. Happy birthday, Bill. You know, I can look back at 44 years in television and know that the most important thing that happened to me was to meet you and to work with you. Because to me, you're Mr. Television. You're really the heart and soul of this medium. So it's with great pride that I can say I was there at the creation of your television career. See you soon.

You're my friend, my mentor, my inspiration, and at your best, you're the funniest religious man I know. So we're here to tip our hat to an amazing original authentic journalist who practices craft in the most subtle way by listening. And Bill is now 60 and he's done more good television than anybody else. So what have I learned from him? Well, the truth is quite a lot, Bill. Yes, I've taken holy orders. Larry Tish is selling CBS and giving the money to charity. And I'm reviving lamp unto my feet. This network is going to change, Bill. I'm going to get you back here, come hell or high water. Excuse the phrase. I must say I'm a bit upset to learn that you're turning 60. This sounds to me like another sneaky little trick to avoid coming to NBC. It won't work. You know, our Levine is 75.

So that gives us 15 more years to work this out. And we will work it out. Bill, you always have been and always will be the alternative to alternative television. Happy birthday. Happy birthday, Bill. Happy surprise sixtieth birthday, Bill. Hi, Bill and happy birthday. Happy birthday, Bill. Happy birthday, Bill. Happy birthday, Bill. Happy birthday, Bill. Happy birthday, Bill. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Best. Happy birthday, Bill. I'm proud to know you. And I wish you the happiest birthday ever. Your friend. God bless you. Happy birthday. Bless you. And happy birthday. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Bill. Happy birthday to you.

Hello Bill Moyers. Surprise. From the time we first met in 1969, I must say you have pleased me. You're not really surprised me. You have been bright and responsible, and oftentimes very funny and dedicated. So, since you haven't surprised me, really, because you've just gotten better at what you do. This is a surprise for you, for me.

I really thank you for your work. I thank God that you've lived this long, which is no small matter. I mean, you've lived a little while, and I'm grateful to Judas for having stuck around. Made you laugh and supported you. I'm really grateful to you, for your intelligence and your human. I thank you very much, and I wish you the happiest birthday ever. Your friend. And in a way, just because you're from Texas and I'm from Arkansas, doesn't mean we can't be brothers and sisters. Bill, it is such a pleasure to be your friend, to watch you grow, to follow your journey, and share the things that you discover. And you know you are a lovely, beautiful human being who has amazing grace. And it was so wonderful to make that piece

for your special, on amazing grace. I want to wish you a happy birthday, and to let you know that you're getting younger, and you're getting better, and you're getting more and more marvelous to see and to share your friendship and your great artistry. Happy birthday, Bill. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Bill. Happy birthday to you. You. Bill, your superb ability as a journalist to shift gears and move swiftly into the action was evident on January the 16th, 1991. We'd planned a live national production with you on children at risk in society. 40 minutes before airtime,

President Bush announced the air strikes over Iraq and the Persian Gulf War had begun. As Americans tuned in for information on the war, you transformed out planned panel discussion into the nation's first town meeting on Operation Desert Stone. Your interviews at evening with members of the panel and audience, many of whom had relatives involved, provided the country with its first look at how Americans were reacting to the war. It was a resounding success. Bill, to me, you are the consummate journalist. Seeking the truth within the important issues of the times, with integrity, sensitivity, and uncommon insight. Thanks for all you've done to inform us and enrich our lives. Here's hoping that you're willing to share your unique talents with us for years to come. Happy birthday, Bill.

You embody the essence of public television. Your programs have brought meaning to words like citizenship, democracy, pluralism, spirituality, humanity. We are enriched by your presence. Happy birthday. Happy birthday, Bill. It is a pleasure and a privilege working with you at PBS. And thanks for all the informative, thoughtful, and insightful programs that you've made possible. We're looking for more great ideas and more great programs from you. Thanks and have a great birthday. Happy surprise, 60th birthday, Bill. You know that all of your friends and fans at WETA love you as the sole, conscience, and intellectual leader of public broadcasting. What an extraordinary track record you and Judith have compiled. The Bill Moyers Journal, World of Ideas, Amazing Grace, Joseph Campbell, The Power of the Past, Florence,

Sports for Sale, Healing in the Mind. We send our heartfelt thanks for your superb legacy. And once again, Happy Birthday. Bill, I never had any doubt when you and I first joined forces some 25 years ago at National Educational Television that you would become a major star of public television. And I am delighted to have this opportunity to say Happy Birthday and thank you so very, very much for everything you've done for all of us in public television for so many years and hopefully will continue to do for many years to come. Happy birthday, Bill. Bill Moyers came into my life when Lyndon Johnson forced him into my life. LBJ had offered him a job at Lady Bird's Radio and Television Station in Austin, Texas. He said, Bird, this is a type of man you want to hire because you don't have to worry about other stations trying to steal him away from you besides that he will work cheap. So Lady Bird gave him a pair of roller skates and Polaroid camera and Bill Moyers became my first mobile news unit,

covered central Texas like Cedar Pauline. I was, as program manager, never that much impressed with Bill Moyers. That's to put it kindly, but that was to change. I was reading a 15 minute newscast, had just finished a story about an explosion in Houston when there was an explosion right under my chair. The volume indicator needle went and I incurred a permanent hearing loss and Bill Moyers almost incurred a loss of the life that we now celebrate. The man that was to become one of America's most respected, talented, yet revered communicators had thrown a firecracker under my chair. My radio audience was in a state of panic. They knew that the explosion that had occurred in Houston had spread to Austin and obviously the newscaster had been killed because they hadn't heard a word from him for five minutes. I will defer to Bill Moyers for an explanation of what happened during those five minutes. I'm here, dear friends, to tell you that Bill Moyers is a dangerous man.

I remember the very first program I ever produced with Bill. It was called Adler on Aristotle with Mortimer Adler. We did it in 1978 in Aspen, Colorado. It was one of those 28 carat days in the Rockies and everything went beautifully. I thought I had reached producer heaven. The program had sole beauty and substance. Then we went on to the rest of the series. Bill came up with the idea for 24 great ideas with Mortimer Adler and then 48 great ideas with Joseph Campbell and then 200 great ideas with every poet, philosopher, author or historian he ever met. You think it's easy speeding along with somebody who is going 20 ideas an hour and trying to raise money for it? We were like agents for the unknown,

trying to market to the oblivious. As one of his fans said, Bill is trying to feed people when they don't even know they're hungry. I have an idea, instead of a birthday greeting, how about sending guaranteed funding and common carriage? There's this homeless man who begs on my block. His turf is right in front of my apartment building. He's sad, he's poor. He walks in this bent over position and he looks up at everybody from underneath and asks for money. He's been there for years. One night I'm returning home from a meeting and Bill is walking with me and the man approaches us and asks for a handout and Bill digs into his pocket to give it to him. The man looks up and suddenly this light of recognition goes on. He says, aren't you on television?

Aren't you Charles Corolt? Bill nods, yes, he's on television. Suddenly the man stands up straight and an absolutely straightforward speech that says, I know who you are, your Bill Moyers. I watch you all the time on public television. Your programs are just great. Bill and I wondered to each other, where does he keep this television set? Bill, you chose a hell of a way to celebrate being 60 but I and all of us at the NewsHour wish you the most comfortable and speedy recovery possible and many happy returns of the birthday. Tonight's eye on a Moyers. Looks at older Texans, much older, older than they were yesterday. I think the days are flying by for you. Take a look at Bill Moyers. Bill is getting so old that people are starting to mistake him for me. I've known Bill since before he worked in the Johnson White House.

We were both younger then. The difference is that with age, Bill at least has gotten wiser. Since then, he's made a career of his conscience, bringing light and understanding of the most difficult topics facing this country. He followed his bliss and brought a fair measure of bliss to the rest of us. We remember his thought provoking essays and analysis, his hard-hitting investigation of things in America that needed improving. But we remember his thinkers and poets and his amazing grace. Television and all of us would be a lot poorer without him. Happy birthday, Bill. I'm proud to know you. There he is, Bill Moyers. Always the visionary. I know what you're up to. The 60th birthday edition of Healing and the Mind. The Moyers triumph. Happy birthday. Get well soon. Do you realize that we've been working together for 23 years? That's unbelievable.

I just want to say how very proud I am to be your colleague and your friend. Happy birthday, Bill. Hi, Bill. And happy birthday. You know, I can look back at 44 years in television and know that the most important thing that happened to me was to meet you and to work with you. Because to me, you're Mr. Television. You're really the heart and soul of this medium. So it's with great pride that I can say I was there at the creation of your television career. See you soon. Bill Moyers, 75 years old, I can't believe it. Boy Wonder in the White House. America's most honored broadcast journalist is 75. It seems only yesterday when I was your executive producer teaching you everything I knew. And after one day of that, when I'd exhausted my knowledge, you have since spent every day telling me what you know and we haven't begun to exhaust that reservoir. Where would I be without you? I took your dream and made it my own

to be a part of the conversation of America. You're my friend, my mentor, my inspiration. And at your best, you're the funniest religious man I know. Happy birthday and congratulations for an extraordinary body of work and an extraordinary life. You can take the boy out of the podium. But you can't take the podium out of the boy. That's the story of this amazing minister to this extraordinary far-fung flock our good friend Bill Moyers. The thing that's so different about Bill in his ministry is that it's of a very different dimension. And we all know why, and that's simply because Bill has a genius. An unmistakable genius, because he has an easier, perfect pitch. This friend of ours can listen to sound waves that escape all the rest of us. He can hear resonance that go right by us and find in its significance, import, meaning,

and above all, extraordinary insight into the nature of our daily lives and our society and our culture. So we marvel at the fact that we have amongst us a great friend with his genius. We also know that when those sound waves come into Bill he ignites an extraordinary set of capacities, the inquisitive mind, the curiosity of spirit, the great humanistic ethic, and that tenacious journalism goes into high gear. And the next thing we know, we have met someone we never dreamed of meeting who has changed our life. So we're here to tip our hat to an amazing original authentic journalist, who practices craft in the most subtle way by listening. And by listening gives us the most magnificent megaphone we could dream of. What more can we say to our youthful preacher,

faithful members of his flock, in his eternal parish, that we wish him many, many, many more years and say, happiest of birthdays. Happy birthday, Bill. So Moir's is 60. I want to tell you about a story. It goes back 25 years. The Public Broadcast Act was about to be signed by President Nixon, who was then President of the United States. At the last minute playwright had called up John Macy, head of public television, and said there could be no money spent for news and public affairs for moirs or buckley or anybody. That was the end of Moir's. I went to tell the board of the Ford Foundation, with George Bundy, tell them that's terrible, terrible story. And the Ford Foundation came up with a budget

of $42 million for Moir's and Buckley. And it saved Moir's and Buckley's programs. They've survived all these years, and Bill is now 60, and he's done more good television than anybody else. I remember the promises that we made those years that news and public affairs would really work. And I remember a quote of Moir, so typical of Bill Moir's, and Ed loved Bill Moir's in his work. This instrument said, tomorrow, can teach it, can illuminate, yes, it can even inspire. But it can only do that to the extent that human beings are determined to use it for those ends. Otherwise, it's merely wires and lights in a box. If you talk about moirs, that includes the promises of Joe Campbell, the power of myth. His marvelous program, my favorite program

that Bill Moir's did on Marshall, Texas. After all, promises kept by Bill Moir's Richard Nixon did not keep, and we kept the promise of public television at Channel 13 and through the eyes and Bill Moir's. God bless you. Happy birthday. Bill Moir? Yes, a lot of people ask me what I learned from Bill. After all, he's still at PBS, and done a decade of extraordinary work in broadcasting, his documentaries are renowned. He's had best sellers. He's done nothing but quality work with integrity and decency and style and wit and literary graciousness. And here I am at a network doing lowest common denominator programming, occasionally getting a cheap laugh, a cheap thrill and precious little else. And since he's left, we've had virtually no insight here at this network.

CBS News missed him, never been the same with that in really. So what have I learned from him? Well, the truth is quite a lot, Bill. Yes, I've taken holy orders. Larry Tish is selling CBS and giving the money to charity. And I'm reviving lamp unto my feet. This network is going to change, Bill. I'm going to get you back here, come hell or high water. Excuse the phrase. So Bill, it hasn't all been wasted. You didn't waste your years here at CBS. I'm not as lucky as I look. I'm going to improve. I swear. I still miss you. We still need you back here. And by the way, Bill, about this heart bypass business. You can't have a heart bypass, Bill. Your heart is as big as all Texas. I'm horrified to think you're 60 because some of us are closely shadowing you. But when you get to 70, I want you to do the three score years and 10, get us book address in Washington. And I'll be standing right there with you. Happy birthday, Bill.

We miss you. That'll always be a place for you here at CBS, the Christian Broadcasting System. Bless you. And happy birthday. Bill, over the years, you and I have shared a lot of competences. I must say, I'm a bit upset to learn that you're turning 60. This sounds to me like another sneaky little trick to avoid coming to NBC. It won't work. You know, Irving R. Levine is 75. So that gives us 15 more years to work this out. And we will work it out. I don't think I've told you what the new NBC News fall campaign is going to be. Our promotion campaign. Moyers. Now, more than ever. We love you. We miss you. Come back. Feel good soon. Thank you, Bill. Best. Bill, I remember when you and I first met. It was over 20 years ago. You were one-third younger then. It was when you first came to public television. And you and I had offices right alongside each other.

And you had a kid working for you. His name was Charlie Rose. And he kept popping into my office, asking questions about how television was produced. But I remember thinking even then that you had real promise that you had something special to offer. You weren't like all those other public television types. First, you had a full head of hair. You didn't have an English accent. And you wanted to do poetry, poetry, on television. Bill, you always have been and always will be the alternative to alternative television. Happy birthday. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Bill. Happy birthday to you.

From your friends at WTTW Chicago, curious birthday greetings to our most ubiquitous and beloved colleague and co-conspirator. Happy birthday dear Bill. Oh, no, not him. Get him out of there. A toast on your special day from us in the windy city. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Bill. Happy birthday to you. Ladies, ladies and gentlemen...