US Congressman. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1950 and became an attorney. After serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1955 to 1958 and 1961 to 1962, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served part of one term March, 1963 to February, 1965. He was an opponent of integration and supported Republican Barry Goldwater for United States President in 1964. He had been reelected in 1964, but Democrats stripped him of seniority because he supported Goldwater. Watson then resigned and ran successfully as a Republican in the ensuing special election, becoming the first South Carolina Republican Congressman since Reconstruction. He won two more terms, and served from June, 1965 to January, 1971, and in 1970 he ran unsuccessfully for Governor. During that campaign, he made a speech in Darlington County in which he urged residents to fight school desegregation. In response, a mob of whites overturned buses carrying black schoolchildren in the town of Lamar. After the campaign, President Richard M. Nixon nominated him to the Military Court of Appeals, but withdrew the nomination after protests from civil rights groups. Watson was appointed afterwards as a Social Security Administrative Law Judge.
US Congressman. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1950 and became an attorney. After serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1955 to 1958 and 1961 to 1962, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives and served part of one term March, 1963 to February, 1965. He was an opponent of integration and supported Republican Barry Goldwater for United States President in 1964. He had been reelected in 1964, but Democrats stripped him of seniority because he supported Goldwater. Watson then resigned and ran successfully as a Republican in the ensuing special election, becoming the first South Carolina Republican Congressman since Reconstruction. He won two more terms, and served from June, 1965 to January, 1971, and in 1970 he ran unsuccessfully for Governor. During that campaign, he made a speech in Darlington County in which he urged residents to fight school desegregation. In response, a mob of whites overturned buses carrying black schoolchildren in the town of Lamar. After the campaign, President Richard M. Nixon nominated him to the Military Court of Appeals, but withdrew the nomination after protests from civil rights groups. Watson was appointed afterwards as a Social Security Administrative Law Judge.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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SERVANT OF HIS GOD, NATION,
STATE AND COUNTRY
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