Albert Watson
Encyclopedia
Albert William Watson was a South Carolina
politician.
Watson was born in Sumter, South Carolina
and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps
. He graduated from the University of South Carolina
law school in 1950 and opened a law practice in the state capital, Columbia
. Watson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
in 1954, representing Richland County
. He served from 1955 to 1958 and from 1961 to 1962.
In 1962, Watson won the Democratic nomination for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
. He faced Floyd Spence
, a fellow state representative from neighboring Lexington County who had turned Republican a few months earlier. The election was far closer than expected, with Watson winning by only five percentage points largely due to the support of his mentor, Senator
Strom Thurmond
. The district, based in Columbia, had been under growing Republican influence for some time.
Like Thurmond, Watson was an ardent segregationist
. He supported Barry Goldwater
's campaign for President in 1964 and headed South Carolina's "Democrats for Goldwater" organization. Partly because of his support for Goldwater, he was reelected without opposition as Goldwater swept the state. However, the Democratic caucus stripped him of his seniority for his support of Goldwater. He resigned on February 1, 1965 and ran as a Republican in a June 15 special election to fill his vacant seat. He won with 69% of the vote, becoming the first Republican to represent South Carolina in the House since 1896, and the first to win an undisputed House election in the state since Reconstruction. He was comfortably reelected in 1966 and 1968. Watson's opposition to civil rights legislation exceeded that of other Southern Republicans, notably being the only House Republican to vote against the Jury Selection Act of 1968, a civil rights act intended to eliminate racial discrimination in jury selection.
In 1970, Watson ran for Governor of South Carolina
. He won the Republican nomination due to a major assist from Thurmond, who had become a Republican himself in 1964 and aggressively campaigned for him. However, Watson's obstinate support of racial bars caused many Republicans to shy away from him. Watson lost the election by over 29,000 votes to Democratic Lieutenant Governor John C. West
. Historians consider Watson's gubernatorial campaign to be the last openly racist campaign in South Carolina, and one of the last in the South. Ironically, Watson was succeeded in the House by Spence, who had nearly won the seat in 1962. Spence went on to hold the seat for 30 years.
Watson retired from public life and practiced law in Columbia until his death.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
politician.
Watson was born in Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. He graduated from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
law school in 1950 and opened a law practice in the state capital, Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. Watson was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
in 1954, representing Richland County
Richland County, South Carolina
Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 U.S. census recorded its population to be 320,677. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded that its population had reached 384,504. It is the second most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville...
. He served from 1955 to 1958 and from 1961 to 1962.
In 1962, Watson won the Democratic nomination for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
The 2nd Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in central and eastern South Carolina. It includes all of Lexington, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale and Barnwell counties; most of Richland County and parts of Aiken, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties...
. He faced Floyd Spence
Floyd Spence
Floyd Davidson Spence was a Republican politician from South Carolina.-Early life and education:Spence was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1928, but spent most of his life in nearby Lexington County. Shortly after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, retiring as...
, a fellow state representative from neighboring Lexington County who had turned Republican a few months earlier. The election was far closer than expected, with Watson winning by only five percentage points largely due to the support of his mentor, Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
. The district, based in Columbia, had been under growing Republican influence for some time.
Like Thurmond, Watson was an ardent segregationist
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
. He supported Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
's campaign for President in 1964 and headed South Carolina's "Democrats for Goldwater" organization. Partly because of his support for Goldwater, he was reelected without opposition as Goldwater swept the state. However, the Democratic caucus stripped him of his seniority for his support of Goldwater. He resigned on February 1, 1965 and ran as a Republican in a June 15 special election to fill his vacant seat. He won with 69% of the vote, becoming the first Republican to represent South Carolina in the House since 1896, and the first to win an undisputed House election in the state since Reconstruction. He was comfortably reelected in 1966 and 1968. Watson's opposition to civil rights legislation exceeded that of other Southern Republicans, notably being the only House Republican to vote against the Jury Selection Act of 1968, a civil rights act intended to eliminate racial discrimination in jury selection.
In 1970, Watson ran for Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
. He won the Republican nomination due to a major assist from Thurmond, who had become a Republican himself in 1964 and aggressively campaigned for him. However, Watson's obstinate support of racial bars caused many Republicans to shy away from him. Watson lost the election by over 29,000 votes to Democratic Lieutenant Governor John C. West
John C. West
John Carl West was a U.S. Democratic Party politician who served as the 109th Governor of South Carolina from 1971 to 1975. He served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1977 to 1981.-Early life:...
. Historians consider Watson's gubernatorial campaign to be the last openly racist campaign in South Carolina, and one of the last in the South. Ironically, Watson was succeeded in the House by Spence, who had nearly won the seat in 1962. Spence went on to hold the seat for 30 years.
Watson retired from public life and practiced law in Columbia until his death.