Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson's life has changed dramatically as U.S. House speaker

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson's life has changed dramatically since his unlikely election as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 25.

The congressman from Benton who represents the 4th Congressional District with Shreveport-Bossier City as the population hub suddenly found himself second in the line of presidential succession, after the vice president.

Johnson, 51, was immediately needed for meetings with President Biden, hosting visiting heads of state and making nation-shaping decisions like crafting a plan to, at least temporarily, avert a government shutdown.

"Every minute since getting the gavel has been full," Johnson said in an exclusive interview with USA Today Network. "There's been no down time at all."

Yet Johnson said he has embraced the flurry of new responsibilities and unrelenting schedule.

"I get up excited every day and am enjoying the opportunity I've been presented with," he said. "I see this as an opportunity for renewal and restoration and I'm enjoying being in a position to help guide the country in that direction."

But that doesn't mean Johnson and his family have had an easy time navigating their new professional and personal lives.

"I'm grateful, prepared and undaunted, but people don't understand how many moving parts there are," he said.

The speaker's office alone employs nearly 100 people to manage the political infrastructure and to run and manage the Capitol complex. Johnson must also continue to operate his 4th District office he still represents.

"I think this may be the first time in history to change the speaker in mid-course, so the process that normally takes many weeks had to ramp up overnight," he said.

"One of the biggest adjustments has been the security detail with eight or 10 people," he said. "Our house in Benton on a once-quiet street is now covered with law enforcement vehicles. Instead of the family rolling up to church in our vehicle we rolled up with a motorcade of Suburbans.

"It's an uncomfortable requirement because it's a complete disruption. I'm not sure anyone ever gets comfortable with it but I understand why it's necessary."

The time demands have also disrupted Johnson's family life. Johnson and his wife Kelly have four children. Two are off to college, but two boys, 18 and 13, remain at home.

It was nearly a month after his election before Johnson returned home to Benton for the first time.

"The job requires a lot more time away from home," he said. "Instead of flying home at the end of the week I'm required to get on a flight to go somewhere else in the country for fundraising."

Last week the youngest son was out of school for Thanksgiving so he was able to travel with Johnson to Atlanta and Florida for fundraisers. While in Florida they had dinner with former President Donald Trump, who Johnson has endorsed, at Mar-a-Lago.

"Being in Congress mostly involves sacrifices for families so getting to have some experiences they wouldn't normally have is important," he said. "Kelly and I are trying to incorporate the kids into as much as we can."

Johnson said he and Kelly accepted the changes as a couple.

"We were prayerful about this decision and she was as convinced as I was that this is something we were supposed to do," Johnson said. "We have embraced it and understand this is something we are to do together."

Johnson said Kelly has returned with him to Washington this week and will remain with him for three weeks.

The spotlight on Johnson's life, both political and private, has also intensified.

"I wasn't surprised by the scrutiny," he said.

That scrutiny has yielded both lavish praise from supporters and intense criticism from opponents.

"We've had (communications) from churches all over the country who tell us they're praying for us and we really do feel that," said Johnson, a devout Christian who often publicly professes his faith.

But there has also been an onslaught of what Johnson describes as "vicious attacks."

"It's a vicious era for politics," he said. "I think the vitriol has been toxic to our culture and something we have to address on both sides of the aisle to turn down the temperature of the politics of personal destruction."

But Johnson said through it all, he has never felt overwhelmed.

"I never felt stressed or burdened because I believe I'm fulfilling a responsibility I've been called on to fill," he said. "There's real peace in that."

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Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. 

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana's Mike Johnson's life has changed dramatically House speaker