A History Lesson in Confronting Anti-Semitism and Bigotry

Thomas J. Watson Sr. Confronts Bigotry and Anti-Semitism as a University Trustee

​In January of 1950, America’s press lit up with indignation over a Lafayette College benefactor’s last will and testament. His dying wish was to provide for his alma mater—as long as his benefaction did not provide scholarship money for a Catholic, a Jew, or any first-generation American.

​​The college’s president and lawyer initially implemented a way around the will’s discriminatory provisions—skirting the biased restrictions. The school intended to deposit all proceeds into the general endowment fund. This would enable the organization to avoid any discriminatory usage of the money—a legal, last-will-and-testament loophole. A total sum of $140,000 brought to the forefront many of the same discussions we are still having seven decades later.

​Tom Watson Sr. was involved in this controversy.

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