Skip to content

Johnson, Tom | Collections | The Huntington

Membership

Donate

Store

OPEN TODAY: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.

Home
Collections
Search
Los Angeles Times records
Histories And Outside Publications
The Life and Times of Los Angeles
Histories And Outside Publications - Life And Times Of Los Angeles
Johnson, Tom

Manuscripts

Johnson, Tom

Description: 1 item: 130-pp. transcript of interview with Tom Johnson, Los Angeles Times Publisher. Subjects include: TJ describes his typical day at that time ; he feels "a great frustration in my inability to read everything in The Times...to read other publications that I feel [it] essential of read" ; getting used to the sheer size of LA and the scope of Los Angeles Times ; his thoughts about the quality of Los Angeles Times - "one of the finest news and editorial products in the nation," etc. ; the Hispanic market (p. 28) ; "I have the reputation of being a workaholic...(but) I love my work" (p.37) ; "Otis believes...in fitness and vacations and in time away to reflect..." (p.39) ; "off-duty" time, evenings, etc. ; memories of the Johnson White House, TJ's work in Texas ; job moves including Texas to Los Angeles, saying "my son may have paid the heaviest price" (p. 49) ; plans for upgrading of high technology equipment around the newspaper (p. 54) ; product improvement ; helping to prepare Norman Chandler (Otis' son) to "achieve his...aspirations" (p. 62-68) ; personnel ; 1980 newsprint shortage ; his interest in government and civic service vs. newspaper management ; "Mrs. Lyndon Johnson is one of my best friends" (p. 100) ; his youth, his mother and father (p. 105+) ; "I'm...39...I've never failed...(with) my son...we're going down a tough path right now" ; White House Fellows program (p. 124) ; more.

Subscribe to our e-newsletter

About
Accessibility
Land Acknowledgment
Using the Library
Careers
Host an Event
Volunteer
Press
Contact Us
Filming/Photography

Opening Hours

Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.

Closed on Tuesdays

Admission Info and Tickets

1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108

Privacy Policy
Social Media Guidelines and User Policy

©2026 The Huntington

Charity Navigator

Type

Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)

Date

1980

Call number

mssLAT

Creator

Los Angeles Times (Firm)(Opens in new tab)

Provenance

The Los Angeles Times,

Restrictions

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining permission rests with the researcher.

Associated people

Bassett, James E., (1912-1978.)

Chandler, Norman, (1899-1973.)

Chandler, Otis, (1927-2006.)

Conrad, Paul, (1924-2010.)

Johnson, W. Thomas, (1941-)

Owens, Charles H.

Associated organizations

Los Angeles Times (Firm).

Los Angeles Times History Center.

Times Mirror Company.

Find out more

View in the Library catalog(Opens in new tab)

You might also be interested in

Image not available
Johnson, Tom
Manuscripts
1 item: 130-pp. transcript of interview with Tom Johnson, Los Angeles Times Publisher. Subjects include: TJ describes his typical day at that time ; he feels "a great frustration in my inability to read everything in The Times...to read other publications that I feel [it] essential of read" ; getting used to the sheer size of LA and the scope of Los Angeles Times ; his thoughts about the quality of Los Angeles Times - "one of the finest news and editorial products in the nation," etc. ; the Hispanic market (p. 28) ; "I have the reputation of being a workaholic...(but) I love my work" (p.37) ; "Otis believes...in fitness and vacations and in time away to reflect..." (p.39) ; "off-duty" time, evenings, etc. ; memories of the Johnson White House, TJ's work in Texas ; job moves including Texas to Los Angeles, saying "my son may have paid the heaviest price" (p. 49) ; plans for upgrading of high technology equipment around the newspaper (p. 54) ; product improvement ; helping to prepare Norman Chandler (Otis' son) to "achieve his...aspirations" (p. 62-68) ; personnel ; 1980 newsprint shortage ; his interest in government and civic service vs. newspaper management ; "Mrs. Lyndon Johnson is one of my best friends" (p. 100) ; his youth, his mother and father (p. 105+) ; "I'm...39...I've never failed...(with) my son...we're going down a tough path right now" ; White House Fellows program (p. 124) ; more. Duplicate of transcript in Box 580, Folder 10, but with notes and editing.
mssLAT
Image not available
Tom Johnson
Manuscripts
Approx. 65 items - notes, memos, a mission statement and other materials, many of them passed between Vance Stickell and Tom Johnson. Also: 3 stapled sheets headed "Mission statement of the Los Angeles Times" ; memos related to Dallas Times Herald ; articles from various publications on operation of LAT and other newspapers. ; 8-pp. booklet (gray), text of an adress by Tom Johnson, named Univ. of Arizona Executive of the Year, "America's Press - Free and Responsible?" ; more.
mssLAT
Image not available
Johnson, Tom - Remarks
Manuscripts
"Presentation to the Board of Directors by Tom Johnson. December 6, 1978" Copies of presentation given by Tom Johnson to Times Mirror Board regarding the Press Project.
mssLAT
Image not available
Johnson, Tom
Manuscripts
Wyatt Tom Johnson was the first non-family publisher. He attended the University of Georgia and Harvard Business School, and worked closely with Lyndon B. Johnson for many years before joining the Dallas Times Herald in 1975. After serving as President for four years, he was Publisher from 1980-1989. Series includes correspondence, clippings, photographs, reports, speeches, and other material. Date range is 1973-1990.
mssLAT
Image not available
Tom Johnson
Manuscripts
Approx. 60 items - memos, reports, speeches and articles on a wide range of subjects. Notable names and items include: Tom Johnson ; speech by Robert Erburu (cover sheet dated 12/20/1985), "Paine Webber Outlook on the Media Conference," presented 12/10/1985 in New York ; 3-pp. cover memo, 3/8/1983, attached to 25-pp. booklet, Newspaper Marketing - a time for reappraisal?" by Paul S. Hirt (Chicago Sun-Times) ; 13-pp. speech transcript, remarks by Tom Johnson to the Bakersfield Rotary, 6/17/1982 ; 5-pp. speech transcript, 3/18/1982, "remarks Tom Johnson made to a large group of security analysts today" ; Vance Stickell ; 13-pp. packet, 7/27/1977, "Tom Johnson Orientation" (there are other, shorter versions of this item).
mssLAT
Image not available
Tom Johnson memos
Manuscripts
Approx. 20 items: memos, letters, and transcripts of remarks and speeches at LAT and Times Mirror meetings. Includes transcripts of executives including Tom Johnson, Robert Erburu, Jack Nelson, David Laventhol (breakfast meeting with Times Mirror executives, 9/30/1987.
mssLAT