W. Marvin Watson

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. 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 primar... more

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. 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... less