Geopolitics & Diplomacy
Through MTV, Bill was able to continue his geopolitical endeavors by spreading American ideas of democracy and freedom around the world. In 1989, Bill broadcasted MTV to both sides of the Iron Curtain, helping bring down the Berlin Wall just two days later. Roedy later obtained a 3.5-ton section of the Berlin Wall in conjunction with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev’s receipt of the MTV Free Your Mind Award. The section of wall is inscribed with a personal message from Gorbachev: “Music is more powerful than missiles.”
In the present day, Bill supports Seeds of Peace, is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, and advised the State Department. He and his wife Alex have also been appointed as Churchill Fellows, and in 2011 Bill delivered the Green Lecture known as Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College. The speech has been delivered by a number of historically renowned figures such as former U.S. Presidents Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
On June 12th, 2024, America’s National Churchill Museum and Westminster College will be hosting an event in London to honor Bill’s global service and Churchillian spirit. For more information, please visit the National Churchill Museum website.
Churchill Updates
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Following in his footsteps, Bill’s wife Alex Roedy was inducted into the Churchill Fellowship at America's Churchill Museum on March 23rd, 2024!
At the ceremony, retired four-star Admiral James Stavridis delivered a timely speech about America’s security and our role in the world. Click above to watch the recording!
Diplomacy
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(2021) Bill speaks at Sinews of Peace 75
Join ANCM Director Timothy Riley in a chat with past John Findley Green Foundation Lecturers William Roedy, former chairman and CEO of MTV International, and Bob Geldof, musician and humanitarian, about Churchill and the 75th anniversary of his "Sinews of Peace" speech. Recorded March 1, 2021, and aired March 5 at approximately 11:30 am during the Museum's #sinewsofpeace75 virtual event.
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(2019) Bill joins the Foreign Affairs Policy Board
Bill serves as an Advisor on the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board. He was selected by fellow West Point Graduate and Former US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo.
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(2015) Bill joins the Council on Foreign Relations
CFR’s membership represents a group unmatched in accomplishment and diversity in the field of international affairs. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher.
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(2015) Vietnam Memorial
Bill was invited to speak at the Memorial on October 10th 2015 in Washington DC. Click the link below to read the full speech.
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(2014) Seeds of Peace
On Sunday 6th April 2014 the Roedy’s began a 5-day ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world, at 19,341 feet to raise money for Seeds of Peace & The Staying Alive Foundation. Bill and Alex joined a fact-finding mission to Israel and the West Bank in 2014, meeting with world leaders to further the search for peace.
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(2011) Bill delivers Churchill's Green Lecture speech
Bill gave the same Green Lecture speech as Winston Churchill at Westminster College on 22nd September 2011 as part of the John Findley Green Lecture Series.
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(1989) Bill and Berlin Wall
In 1989, Bill led the start-up MTV Europe, bringing a new form of television to viewers on both sides of the Iron Curtain.
Videos
Below are Bill’s top selections. For our full playlists, please visit our YouTube Channel here.
Click here for the full Diplomacy playlist.