VIDEO: Ted Turner Opens Up to CBS SUNDAY MORNING

CNN founder and television visionary Ted Turner opens up to senior contributor Ted Koppel about his battle with a progressive brain disorder, the symptoms he's experiencing, his life today and why he never ran for the White House, in an interview for CBS SUNDAY MORNING to be broadcast Sunday, Sept. 30 (9:00 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network.

Turner, the creator of CNN and the Turner Broadcasting System, was known for being a visionary with a penchant for being politically incorrect. He was also known for going through euphoric highs and dark lows, which were initially diagnosed as symptoms of manic depression. Turner says that was a misdiagnosis. Now, he tells Koppel, he's battling Lewy body dementia.

"It's a mild case of what people have as Alzheimer's. It's similar to that. But not nearly as bad. Alzheimer's is fatal," Turner tells Koppel during a visit to Turner's 113,000-acre ranch near Bozeman, Mont. "Thank goodness I don't have that. But, I also have got, let's - THE ONE that's-I can't remember the name of it."

After a pause, Turner says, "Dementia. I can't remember what my disease is."

Asked what his symptoms are, Turner says, "Tired. Exhausted. That's the main symptoms, and forgetfulness."

Turner talks with Koppel about his life today, the tragedy of his father's suicide, his dedication to the environment, and his thoughts on CNN today.

Turner doesn't watch the news much anymore, though he still watches CNN occasionally, Koppel reports.

"I think they're stickin' with politics a little too much," Turner tells Koppel in a CBSNews.com exclusive. "They - they'd do better to have - a more balanced - agenda. But that's, you know, just one person's opinion."

"Yeah, one person who founded the joint," Koppel says.

Turner also says he once thought about running for president.

"Well, the closest I came to running for office was when I was married to Jane Fonda. And when I discussed it with her - she was married to one politician," Turner tells Koppel. "And she said, you know, 'If you run for, for office, you run alone.'"

CBS SUNDAY MORNING is broadcast Sundays (9:00-10:30 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. Rand Morrison is the executive producer.

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