Thomas Edward "Tom" Watson (1856–1922) was an American politician, newspaper editor, and writer from Georgia. He was of entirely English descent. In the 1890s Watson championed poor farmers as a leader of the Populist Party, articulating an agrarian political viewpoint while attacking business, bankers, railroads, Democratic President Grover Cleveland, and the Democratic Party. He was the nominee for vice president with William Jennings Bryan in 1896 on the Populist ticket (but there was a different vice presidential nominee on Bryan's Democratic ticket). Politically he was a leader on the left in the 1890s, calling on poor whites (and poor blacks) to unite against the elites. However after 1900 he moved far to the right and was best known for intense attacks on blacks, Jews and Catholics. Two years prior to his death, he was elected to the United States Senate.
Famous quotes containing the words thomas and/or watson:
“Joy is the knock of dust, Cadaver’s shoot
Of bud of Adam through his boxy shift....”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
“His friends he loved. His direst earthly foes—
Cats—I believe he did but feign to hate.
My hand will miss the insinuated nose,
Mine eyes the tail that wagg’d contempt at Fate.”
—Sir William Watson (1858–1935)