John W. Macy
1917-1986

John Williams Macy, Jr. was born on April 6, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. From 1969 to 1972, he served as the first president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He was forced out after three years in a dispute with the Nixon Administration on the future direction and financing of public broadcasting. Specifically, the Nixon administration saw him as an obstacle to its efforts to discourage the corporation from financing public affairs television programming.

Besides many consultancy positions, Macy served as the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 1979 to 1981. He also served on many boards, including the Board of Directors of WETA from 1981 to 1986. Macy wrote several books including Public Service (1971) and To Irrigate a Wasteland (1974).

John W. Macy died on December 22, 1986.

Other resources

Archives of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting: John W. Macy Files