Tom Johnson’s “Driven”: A Life of Power, Media, and a Silent Battle with Depression
From the corridors of power in the White House to the helm of a global news empire, Tom Johnson’s illustrious career reads like a chapter from American history. Yet, the 84-year-old former CNN president, a confidant to President Lyndon B. Johnson and a media visionary alongside Ted Turner, reveals in his new memoir, “Driven,” that his greatest accomplishments were forged amidst a silent, severe battle with depression that once pushed him to the brink of suicide. His purpose in sharing this deeply personal narrative is clear: to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental illness and underscore the urgent need for seeking help.
A Memoir of Resilience and Hope
“I want to convey that depression is a treatable illness,” Johnson stated in a recent interview. “You do not need to kill yourself as two of my best friends did.” His book’s title, “Driven,” reflects not only his mother’s early counsel that hard work leads to achievement but also acknowledges the profound personal cost of such relentless ambition.
From the White House to Texas
Johnson’s journey began in earnest after graduate school at Harvard, when he joined the White House staff of President Lyndon B. Johnson. As a junior aide, initially working with press secretary Bill Moyers, his meticulous note-taking in high-stakes meetings earned him the trust of the President. So deep was this trust that when LBJ departed the White House in January 1969, he asked Johnson to accompany him to Texas as his top aide. It was during this post-presidency period, driving around LBJ’s Texas ranch, that Johnson once questioned his former boss about the Vietnam War. LBJ, believing in the strategic necessity of the conflict despite its escalating human cost, famously told Johnson, “Tom, I will go to my grave believing we did the right thing,” just weeks before his own death in 1973. Decades later, with the benefit of hindsight, Johnson publicly acknowledged the pain of concluding that “our Vietnam policies were wrong. Disastrously wrong.”
The Print Media Boom and a Personal Crisis
After his service to LBJ, Johnson transitioned into the vibrant world of print journalism. He moved to Times Mirror, taking on publisher roles at the Dallas Times Herald and later the prestigious Los Angeles Times. This era marked a boom for newspapers, but also a period of profound personal struggle for Johnson. He was eventually ousted from the Los Angeles Times by the Chandler family, who deemed him “too liberal.” The loss of his publishing role in 1989 became a catalyst for his lowest point, triggering severe depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts. A hunter, Johnson took the critical step of giving his guns to a colleague, recognizing the danger of having a weapon readily accessible during such a vulnerable time. His wife, Edwina, played a pivotal role, pushing him to seek professional help where he discovered a genetic predisposition to depression. “You really learn the importance of this person who is sharing the journey with you, even when I was hard to love,” he reflected, admitting he lashed out at his family but never at colleagues.
Leading CNN: The Golden Age and Ted Turner
In 1990, Johnson embarked on his next monumental challenge: the presidency of CNN. Despite warnings about the eccentricities of founder Ted Turner, Johnson embraced the opportunity, quickly recognizing Turner’s visionary leadership. His 11-year tenure at CNN, from 1990 to 2001, is widely regarded as the network’s golden age, a period of unprecedented success and global expansion. Johnson drew parallels between his two most influential mentors: “Lyndon Baines Johnson was the most complex human being I ever had met… He would remain the most complex human being I knew until I began working for Ted Turner at CNN decades later. In terms of complexity, the two men were in a league of their own.” However, Johnson’s loyalty to Turner was clear, and watching Turner effectively stripped of his duties following CNN’s sale to Time Warner in 2001 triggered a painful resurgence of Johnson’s depression, prompting his departure from the network.
A Lifelong Battle and Personal Regrets
Johnson’s memoir delves into his ongoing management of depression. He found solace in conversations with other prominent men who battled the illness, including newspaper columnist Art Buchwald, “60 Minutes” correspondent Mike Wallace, and novelist William Styron. Through trial and error, he found the right medications to manage his condition. His dedication to his career, however, came at a personal cost. He admits to being a workaholic, often leaving home before his children, Wyatt and Christa, woke and returning after they were asleep. His daughter once confronted him, saying, “Don’t forget that you’re a daddy, too.” Johnson candidly shares, “The biggest single regret of my life was that I was not a good father to my children in that regard. I was a good provider, but I wasn’t there for them.”
Retirement, Family, and a New Mission
Since retiring at age 60, Johnson has prioritized his family and dedicated himself to advocacy. He now champions mental health awareness, substance abuse treatment, and Alzheimer’s Disease research, a cause deeply personal to him since his daughter was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s during the COVID-19 pandemic. Writing “Driven” was, in his own words, “the most stressful project of my life,” a two-year endeavor undertaken with the meticulous factual accuracy honed over decades in journalism. As his wife quipped, “If you ever do another book, it will be with another wife.” Johnson’s profound message of hope and recovery resonates: help is available, and no one needs to suffer in silence.
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This article contains material about suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or chat online at 988lifeline.org.
