- W. Marvin Watson
-
W. Marvin Watson Informal White House Chief of Staff In office
1963–1968President Lyndon B. Johnson Preceded by Wilton Persons Succeeded by Jim Jones
as Appointments Secretary
(Johnson Admin)
H.R. Haldeman
as 4th White House Chief of Staff
(Nixon Admin)58th United States Postmaster General In office
April 26, 1968 – January 20, 1969President Lyndon Johnson Preceded by Lawrence F. O'Brien Succeeded by Winton M. Blount Personal details Born June 6, 1924
Oakhurst, TexasPolitical party Democratic Alma mater Baylor University Military service Service/branch United States Marine Corps Battles/wars World War II William Marvin Watson (born June 6, 1924) was an advisor to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and was Postmaster General in 1968 and early 1969.[1]
Biography
Watson was born in Oakhurst, Texas, and attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, getting a scholarship as a musician. He entered the United States Marine Corps during World War II and saw action in the Pacific campaign during the later stage of the war. He began working for Johnson during the 1948 primary campaign for the Democratic nomination to run for the United States Senate. At that time, there was no noteworthy Republican Party in Texas, so the primary would effectively decide the election.
Watson continued being active in local politics as a "Johnson Man," rising to become the head of the Democratic Party in Texas. In 1960, he both helped organize the Kennedy/Johnson campaign in Texas while also working directly for Johnson as an aide while campaigning across the United States. During Johnson's years as both a Senator as well as Vice-President, he repeatedly asked Watson to join his staff, but Watson declined, preferring the freedom of remaining an independent adviser to LBJ, rather than an employee.
Johnson called upon Watson to help organize the 1964 Democratic Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Watson found it necessary to remove many Kennedy family loyalists from the convention staff, as he became convinced that they were working to either force Johnson to accept Robert Kennedy as his running mate, or else stampede the delegates to have RFK nominated for the presidency instead of Johnson.
Watson became the White House Chief of Staff in-all-but-title to President Johnson in 1965, helping to coordinate passage of much of the Great Society domestic agenda. In this position, his workday frequently began shortly after 6:00 in the morning, and he routinely didn't return home for the day until midnight or later; even during his off hours, he remained on call, and quite often found himself back at his desk in the White House on Sundays in order to deal with sudden issues. He was appointed Postmaster General in 1968, and is now the last surviving cabinet-level Postmaster General.
After the end of the Johnson administration in 1969, Watson became an official with Occidental Petroleum, working with Armand Hammer. He had been offered the U.S. ambassadorship to Australia by Richard Nixon, but declined so as to be able to spend more time with his family.
He delivered a heartfelt eulogy at Johnson's state funeral in January 1973, emphasizing his obsessive dedication to the betterment of America.
Further reading
- W. Marvin Watson & Sherwin Markman. Chief of Staff: Lyndon Johnson and His Presidency. Thomas Dunne Books, 2004. ISBN 0-312-28504-3
References
Political offices Preceded by
Wilton PersonsWhite House Chief of Staff
Served under: Lyndon B. Johnson
1963–1968Succeeded by
H. R. HaldemanPreceded by
Lawrence F. O'BrienUnited States Postmaster General
Served under: Lyndon B. Johnson
April 26, 1968 – January 20, 1969Succeeded by
Winton M. BlountWhite House Chiefs of Staff John Steelman • Sherman Adams • Wilton Persons • Marvin Watson • H. R. Haldeman • Alexander Haig • Donald Rumsfeld • Dick Cheney • Hamilton Jordan • Jack Watson • James Baker • Donald Regan • Howard Baker • Kenneth Duberstein • John Sununu • Samuel Skinner • James Baker • Mack McLarty • Leon Panetta • Erskine Bowles • John Podesta • Andrew Card • Joshua Bolten • Rahm Emanuel • William DaleyUnited States Postmasters General Confederal Federal Cabinet level Barry · Kendall · Niles · F. Granger · Wickliffe · Johnson · Collamer · Hall · Hubbard · Campbell · A. Brown · Holt · King · Blair · Dennison · Randall · Creswell · Marshall · Jewell · Tyner · Key · Maynard · James · Howe · Gresham · Hatton · Vilas · Dickinson · Wanamaker · Bissell · Wilson · Gary · Smith · Payne · Wynne · Cortelyou · Meyer · Hitchcock · Burleson · Hays · Work · New · W. Brown · Farley · Walker · Hannegan · Donaldson · Summerfield · Day · Gronouski · O'Brien · Watson · Blount
U.S. Postal Service Cabinet of President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) Vice President Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Postmaster General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of the Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges (1963–1965) · John T. Connor (1965–1967) · Alexander Buel Trowbridge (1967–1968) · C. R. Smith (1968–1969)Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Anthony J. Celebrezze (1963–1965) · John William Gardner (1965–1968) · Wilbur Joseph Cohen (1968–1969)Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Categories:- United States Postmasters General
- White House Chiefs of Staff
- 1924 births
- Living people
- American military personnel of World War II
- Baylor University alumni
- People from San Jacinto County, Texas
- Lyndon B. Johnson Administration cabinet members
- Texas Democrats
- United States Marines
- Writers from Texas
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