Insights into Tom Watson's High Ideals

Date Published: January 1, 2024

Insights into Thomas J. Watson Sr., Traditional Founder of IBM from
"THINK Again!: 20th Century Ideas and High Ideals for the 21st Century"

• A Few More Insights Beyond the Prologue into Tom Watson's Character

Watson's Character

​Tom Watson told the 1936 Colgate University graduating class that “Reputation is what people think you are; character is what you really are.” After reading the book's prologue and the next 253 editorials, the reader may have a good start in divining Tom Watson’s character—who he really was.

THINK Again!: High Ideals page xxxiv

​​As summarized by one person: “The world is better for his having lived.”

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• Documenting Tom Watson’s Wartime Humanitarian Causes

Wartime Humanitarian
Causes

​Tom Watson’s involvement in wartime humanitarian activities existed long before World War II came to the United States with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It is easy to suggest through the list in this article that no single individual held so many positions within so many war-relief organizations.

THINK Again!: High Ideals page 235.

This list chronicles for posterity Tom Watson’s foremost World War II and Korean War humanitarian activities.

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• Tom Watson: A “Man of Peace” Became “Democracy’s Man O’ War”​

Democracy's Man O' War

This information summarizes how Tom Watson transitioned from seeking peace in the 1937–39 timeframe to supporting democracy’s war against fascism in the 1940–45 timeframe.

​He became Democracy's Man O' War.

THINK Again!: High Ideals page 257.

For outstanding service to the nation during the war, Thomas J. Watson, IBM President, was awarded the Medal for Merit, conferred by U.S. President Harry S. Truman and presented by Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson in Washington, D. C., on May 19, 1947.

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• The International Community Recognized Tom Watson as an Exemplary Man

International Recognition as an ​Exemplary Man

Plato was quoted in the introduction: “When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.” Plato, known for picking his words carefully, chose the word “when” not “if.” ​Hopefully, this list will convince readers that Tom Watson lived his life so that they may rightfully question those who write ill of him.

THINK Again!: High Ideals page 343 & 361

This is a partial list of expressions of warm appreciation from the international community that few other 20th Century figures have matched.

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• Tom Watson’s High Ideals on Youth, Education, and the Future

Thomas J. Watson Sr. Speaks on Youth, Education, and the Future

The topic of Tom Watson's last editorial was “Youth.” It was written at 82 years of age—in the very month of his death. ​Over his lifetime, Tom Watson delivered innumerable baccalaureate addresses to college graduates—to youth at a critical point in their lives. 

THINK Again!: High Ideals page 391.

This article contains a few excerpts from those speeches like this one: “We have no right to feel that we are doing a good educational job until we can offer an opportunity to every child regardless of his station in life.”

​Tom Watson, Rollins College, February 1937

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