W. Marvin Watson

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William Marvin Watson (b. June 6, 1924) was an advisor to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and was Postmaster General in 1968 and early 1969.

[edit] 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 Corp 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 effective 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.

Watson became an informal White House Chief of Staff to President Johnson in 1965. 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 delivered a heartfelt eulogy at Johnson's state funeral in January of 1973, emphasizing his obsessive dedication to the betterment of America.

[edit] Further reading

W. Marvin Watson & Sherwin Markman. Chief of Staff: Lyndon Johnson and His Presidency. Thomas Dunne Books, 2004. ISBN 0-312-28504-3

Preceded by Lawrence F. O'Brien	United States Postmaster General 1968–1969	Succeeded by Winton M. Blount
Preceded by Wilton Persons	White House Chief of Staff 1965–1968	Succeeded by H. R. Haldeman