The erstwhile CIA agent, host of CrossFire (CNN) and JFK conspiracy
theorist - reporter - author of Eight-Is-Enough - "left" CNN in favor
of Michael Kinsley due to surgery, "disfavor", or whatnot, and
mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth; no obits, no
books, lectures, shows, or press clippings about him... except when
his wife died in 1999, and some sources "supposed" she was survived by
her husband Tom. (her "son" Tom, had died under mysterious
circumstances, the other 7 (of 8 is enough) kids survived her (Joan
Braden.) Where is Tom today, why did he leave, why has he not been
heard from, is he really alive? I've wondered for years.

Doodkj --

Thomas (Wardell) Braden is almost certainly alive and living in the
family home in Chevy Chase, MD.  According to the Gale database,
"Contemporary Authors Online," which I accessed at my local public
library, Braden is 87, being born Feb. 22, 1917 in Greene, Iowa.   
The Gale database even lists his home address but Google Answers
discourages researchers from providing personal details.  (It was
written in December, 2003).

Braden obtained both his bachelors and masters degrees at Darmouth. 
Besides being a journalist, he served in the British and Australian
armies during World War II.  He wrote a book with Stuart Alsop in 1964
titled "Sub Rosa: The OSS and American Espionage."

Markj-GA has already done an excellent job of noting the obituary of
his wife Joan, who died Aug. 30, 1999 at age 77.  She's been highly
involved in Washington political life and her Washington Post obituary
is -- in a word -- candid.

Joan and Tom had captured the saga of living in a house with eight
children in the book "Eight is Enough," later adapted to the ABC TV
series starring Dick Van Patten.

The Bradens were well-known in the Washington social and political
scene from the 1960s through the 1990s.  Their home was open to many
political personalities, though in a 1976 Washington Post profile
written by Sally Quinn, she observed that the quality of the guests
exceeded the quality of the food & wine.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

I miss his fiery rhetoric, and always felt sorry for him when the
"other side" would infuriate him to the point he could hardly speak,
and his temples appeared ready to burst. Yes, he is undoubtedly alive,
as one would presume from lack of an obit- etc, although the specter
of him being "somehow quieted" to prevent releasing some amazingingly
disturbing secrets still tantalizes. I am not sure the "answers"
adequately respond to "why did he leave (public life)" - "why has he
not been heard from"... the latter especially mind boggling, but
thanks for the info so far presented; I hope more comments appear that
might shed more light. Best, dood.

doodkj --

The following quote is from a September 2, 2002 Washington Post
article about the funeral of Polly Fritchey, the wife of journalist
Clayton Fritchey:

"Goodbye, Polly: Georgetown social lioness Polly Fritchey, who died
July 9 at age 90, received a rousing sendoff yesterday from friends
and family during a memorial service at St. Alban's Episcopal Church.
The power players celebrating Fritchey's life in the Washington
establishment included Tom Braden and Robert McNamara (who memorably
shared intimacies with Braden's late wife, Joan, and yesterday shared
a hug), Joseph Califano, Henry and Nancy Kissinger, Richard Holbrooke,
Boyden Gray, Laughlin Phillips, Richard and Cynthia Helms, and our own
Donald Graham."

Since Braden is a minor celebrity, I suspect that the lack of an
obituary indicates that he is still alive, although undoubtedly very
old, and probably living "under the radar" in the Washington area.

markj-ga