By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
OCT. 14, 2025 | Finally, Tom Johnson of Atlanta has written a book about his remarkable career. We’re glad he did, for the book is fascinating, and he tells stories no one else can tell about his days from growing up in Macon, to the White House, and to the top of the news world. He became a recognized world news leader when heading CNN.
Yet it wasn’t always peaches and cream, as Tom discloses some of his most difficult personal trials that allows you to understand the title, Driven.
Tommy Johnson and I both started out working for The Macon Telegraph, six years later than me. His first boss was Sam Glassman, the sports editor, who taught him something valuable in journalism: “Get (the facts) it right!”
Working full weekends at the Telegraph while at the University of Georgia, he was encouraged to go to Harvard Business School, then landed in the first class of the White House Fellows. President Lyndon Johnson saw something in him, and soon he was a “special assistant” to the president, taking copious notes when sitting in on secret meetings, having gained the president’s trust.
As Tom anticipated returning to the private world, LBJ wanted him in Austin, Texas, to help run the many family businesses. That soon led to a major position, him becoming publisher of the Dallas Times-Herald, owned by the Los Angeles Times, and later becoming its publisher. After 13 exceptionally profitable years guided by Johnson, he was abruptly fired by the conservative family holdings. That’s when Ted Turner tapped him to lead CNN (after Jane Fonda OK’d him!).
What great personal stories and photos there are in this book!
- When young reporter Doris Kearns (Goodwin) wrote critically of LBJ, Tom told the president, who said: “Tom, I want her assigned to me.” She later wrote a history of the LBJ days.
- Through a friend in Texas, he was introduced to Ted Turner of CNN, who fascinated Tom. When Tom asked Ted what he expected of him in the job, Ted said: “Make CNN the absolute best news network on the planet.” “What else?” “That’s it, pal.” And Turner continually backed that idea with the dollars to make CNN the first truly global network it became, led by Johnson.
- As Michael Gorbachev was ready to sign resignation papers, to transfer power in Russia and basically end the Cold War, his pen didn’t work. Johnson pulled out his Mont Blanc pen for Gorbachev to use. Johnson later donated that pen to the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Fascinating stories like those above pop up regularly throughout the book.
Very openly in this accounting, Johnson reveals sides of him that people did not see. Most associates never recognized this part of his life. He was often troubled by depression, plus addiction, and he tells of his struggles. It wasn’t easy, but he found new ways to help others in these areas. His wife, long his cornerstone, was hit by cancer, and they found new strength in her recovery. And he learned more about Alzheimer’s Disease, when it hit his daughter. He took all these topics as his new path to public services, using his Rolodex to contact key people.
If it’s one element that Johnson seems to regret, it was that he didn’t spend enough time with his wife, son and daughter. Johnson is now working on this.
You’ll be pleased that Tom Johnson, now 84, penned this fascinating and easily read book. It is published by the University of Georgia Press.
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