J. C. Watts
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}}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#if:||{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}}}} }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox officeholder with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| regexp1 = 1blankname[%d]* | regexp2 = 1namedata[%d]* | regexp3 = 2blankname[%d]* | regexp4 = 2namedata[%d]* | regexp5 = 3blankname[%d]* | regexp6 = 3namedata[%d]* | regexp7 = 4blankname[%d]* | regexp8 = 4namedata[%d]* | regexp9 = 5blankname[%d]* | regexp10 = 5namedata[%d]* | allegiance | alma_mater | regexp11 = alongside[%d]* | alt | regexp12 = ambassador_from[%d]* | regexp13 = appointed[%d]* | regexp14 = appointer[%d]* | regexp15 = assembly[%d]* | awards | battles | battles_label | birth_date | birth_name | birth_place | birthname | regexp16 = blank[%d]* | bodyclass | branch | branch_label | cabinet | candidate | caption | categories | regexp17 = chancellor[%d]* | children | citizenship | regexp18 = co%-leader[%d]* | commands | committees | regexp19 = constituency[%d]* | regexp20 = constituency_AM[%d]* | regexp21 = constituency_MP[%d]* | regexp22 = convocation[%d]* | regexp23 = country[%d]* | regexp24 = data[%d]* | date | death_cause | death_date | death_manner | death_place | demo | regexp25 = deputy[%d]* | regexp26 = district[%d]* | education | election_date | embed | father | regexp28 = firstminister[%d]* | footnotes | regexp29 = governor[%d]* | regexp30 = governor_general[%d]* | regexp31 = governor%-general[%d]* | height | honorific_prefix | honorific-prefix | honorific_suffix | honorific-suffix | image | image name | image_name_alt | image_size | imagesize | image_upright | incumbent | regexp32 = jr/sr[%d]* | regexp33 = jr/sr and state[%d]* | known_for | regexp34 = leader[%d]* | regexp35 = legislature[%d]* | regexp36 = lieutenant[%d]* | regexp37 = lieutenant_governor[%d]* | mainwidth | regexp38 = majority[%d]* | regexp39 = majority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp40 = majority_leader[%d]* | regexp41 = majorityleader[%d]* | mawards | regexp42 = military_blank[%d]* | regexp43 = military_data[%d]* | regexp44 = minister[%d]* | regexp45 = minister_from[%d]* | regexp46 = minority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp47 = minority_leader[%d]* | regexp48 = minorityleader[%d]* | regexp49 = module[%d]* | regexp50 = monarch[%d]* | mother | name | nationality | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nocat | regexp51 = nominator[%d]* | nominee | occupation | regexp52 = office[%d]* | opponent | regexp53 = order[%d]* | otherparty | parents | regexp54 = parliament[%d]* | regexp55 = parliamentarygroup[%d]* | partner | party | party_election | portfolio | regexp56 = preceded[%d]* | regexp57 = preceding[%d]* | regexp58 = predecessor[%d]* | regexp59 = premier[%d]* | regexp60 = president[%d]* | regexp61 = primeminister[%d]* | regexp62 = prior_term[%d]* | profession | pronunciation | rank | rank_label | relations | relatives | residence | resting_place | resting_place_coordinates | restingplace | restingplacecoordinates | regexp63 = riding[%d]* | runningmate | salary | serviceyears | serviceyears_label | signature | signature_alt | signature_size | smallimage | smallimage_alt | source | speaker | speaker_office | spouse | spouses | regexp64 = state[%d]* | regexp65 = state_assembly[%d]* | regexp66 = state_delegate[%d]* | regexp67 = state_house[%d]* | regexp68 = state_legislature[%d]* | regexp69 = state_senate[%d]* | regexp70 = status[%d]* | regexp71 = suboffice[%d]* | regexp72 = subterm[%d]* | regexp73 = succeeded[%d]* | regexp74 = succeeding[%d]* | regexp75 = successor[%d]* | regexp76 = taoiseach[%d]* | regexp77 = term[%d]* | regexp78 = term_end[%d]* | regexp79 = term_label[%d]* | regexp80 = term_start[%d]* | regexp81 = termend[%d]* | regexp82 = termlabel[%d]* | regexp83 = termstart[%d]* | regexp84 = title[%d]* | unit | unit_label | regexp85 = vicegovernor[%d]* | regexp86 = vicepremier[%d]* | regexp87 = vicepresident[%d]* | regexp88 = viceprimeminister[%d]* | regexp89 = assuming[%d]* | website | width | year }} Julius Caesar Watts Jr. (born November 18, 1957) is an American politician, clergyman, and former football player. Watts played as a quarterback in college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and later played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican, representing Template:Ushr.
Watts was born and raised in Eufaula, Oklahoma, in a rural impoverished neighborhood. After being one of the first children to attend an integrated elementary school, he became a high school quarterback and gained a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. He graduated from college in 1981 with a degree in journalism and became a football player in the Canadian Football League until his retirement in 1986.
Watts became a Baptist minister and was elected in 1990 to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission as the first African-American in Oklahoma to win statewide office. He successfully ran for Congress in 1994 and was re-elected to three additional terms with increasing vote margins. Watts delivered the Republican response to Bill Clinton's 1997 State of the Union address and was elected Chair of the House Republican Conference in 1998. He retired in 2003 and turned to lobbying and business work, also occasionally serving as a political commentator.
Early life and careerEdit
Watts was born in Eufaula in McIntosh County, Oklahoma<ref name=congressbio>Template:Cite dictionary</ref> to J. C. "Buddy" Watts Sr., and Helen Watts (d. 1992).<ref name=LAT990222>Template:Cite news</ref> His father was a Baptist minister, cattle trader,<ref name=NYT000221>Template:Cite news</ref> the first black police officer in Eufaula,<ref name=NYT970205>Template:Cite news</ref> and a member of the Eufaula City Council.<ref name=NYT001217>Template:Cite news</ref> His mother was a homemaker.<ref name=baic>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Watts is the fifth of six children and grew up in a poor rural African-American neighborhood.<ref name=NYT981116>Template:Cite news</ref> He was one of two black children who integrated the Jefferson Davis Elementary School in Eufaula and the first black quarterback at Eufaula High School.<ref name=NYT970205/>
While in high school, Watts fathered a daughter with a white woman, causing a scandal.<ref name=NW971108>Template:Cite news</ref> Their families decided against an interracial marriage because of contemporary racial attitudes and Watts' family provided for the child until she could be adopted by Watts' uncle, Wade Watts, a Baptist minister, civil rights leader and head of the Oklahoma division of the NAACP.<ref name=NW971108/>
He graduated from high school in 1976 and attended the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship.<ref name=congressbio/><ref name=NYT950806>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1977, Watts married Frankie Jones, an African-American woman with whom he had fathered a second daughter during high school.<ref name=baic/><ref name=NW971108/>
Watts began his college football career as the second-string quarterback and left college twice, but his father convinced him to return, and Watts became starting quarterback of the Sooners in 1979 and led them to consecutive Orange Bowl victories.<ref name=NYT001217/> Watts graduated from college in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts<ref name=congressbio/> in journalism.<ref name=NYT001217/> Watts was selected by the New York Jets of the National Football League in the eighth round of the 1981 NFL Draft. The Jets tried Watts at several positions and could not guarantee that he would play quarterback, so he opted to sign with the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders. As Ottawa's quarterback, he helped the team reach the 1981 Grey Cup game, which they nearly won in an upset.<ref name=NYT001217/> Watts stayed with the Rough Riders from 1981 to 1985 and played a season for the Toronto Argonauts before retiring in 1986.<ref name=NYT001217/><ref name=Mullick/>
Watts returned to Oklahoma and became a youth minister in Del City and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1993.<ref name=baic/> He is a teetotaler.<ref name=NYT981119/> Watts opened a highway construction company and later cited discontent with government regulation of his business as reason to become a candidate for public office.<ref name=baic/> Watts' family was affiliated with the Democratic Party and his father and uncle Wade Watts were active in the party, but it did not help Watts when he ran for public office and he changed his party affiliation in 1989, months before his first statewide race.<ref name=NYT001217/><ref name=NYT950806/> Watts later stated he had first considered changing parties when, as a journalism student, he covered the 1980 U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Don Nickles.<ref name=baic/> Watts' father and uncle continued to strongly oppose the Republican party, but supported him.<ref name=LAT990222/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Watts won election to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in November 1990<ref name=NYT981116/> for a six-year term<ref name=LAT990222/> as the first African-American elected to statewide office in Oklahoma.<ref name=NYT941007>Template:Cite news</ref> He served as a member of the commission from 1990 to 1995 and as its chairman from 1993 to 1995.<ref name=congressbio/>
U.S. House of RepresentativesEdit
1994 congressional electionEdit
Watts ran for Congress in 1994 to succeed Dave McCurdy, who had announced his retirement from the House of Representatives to run for the Senate. He positioned himself as both a fiscal and social conservative, favoring the death penalty, school prayer, a balanced budget amendment and welfare reform, and opposing abortion, gay rights, and reduced defense spending.<ref name=baic/> After a hard-fought primary campaign<ref name=NYT000221/> against state representative Ed Apple, Watts won 49 percent to Apple's 48 percent of the vote in August 1994, and 52 percent in the resulting run-off election in September 1994 with the support of Representative Jack Kemp and actor and National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston.<ref name=baic/> Watts started his race against the Democratic nominee, David Perryman, a white lawyer from Chickasha, with a wide lead in several early polls and 92 percent name recognition in one poll.<ref name=NYT941007/> Watts hosted former President George H. W. Bush, U.S. Senator Bob Dole, and Minority Whip Newt Gingrich<ref name=baic/> and focused on welfare reform and the necessity of capital formation and capital gains, as well as a reduction in the capital gains tax as beneficial for urban blacks.<ref name=NYT941007/> Some voters were expected to not vote for Watts because of race, but the editor of a local political newspaper argued Watts' established Christian conservative image and his popularity as a football player would help him win.<ref name=NYT941007/> On November 8, 1994, Watts was elected with 52 percent of the vote<ref name="clerkresults">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as the first African-American Republican U.S. Representative from south of the Mason–Dixon line since Reconstruction.<ref name=NYT950128>Template:Cite news</ref> He and Gary Franks of Connecticut were the only two African-American Republicans in the House.<ref name=NYT950128/> Oklahoma's Fourth District at the time was 90 percent white and had been represented by Democrats since 1922.<ref name=NYT001217/>
As Congressman, Watts was assigned to the Armed Services Committee and the Financial Services Committee.<ref name=baic/> Watts emphasized moral absolutes and was considered in line with Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich's agenda,<ref name=NYT950128/> the Contract with America,<ref name=baic/> and at the time was the only African-American who did not join the Congressional Black Caucus.<ref name=NYT981119>Template:Cite news</ref> He initially supported ending affirmative action, declaring inadequate education the main obstacle for racial equality, but subsequently opposed legislation banning the practice for the federal government.<ref name=baic/> Watts focused on promoting his party, attending NAACP meetings and meeting with representatives from historically black colleges.<ref name=baic/> In 1995, Watts was named national co-chairman for the presidential campaign of Republican Bob Dole.<ref name=NYT950806/>
Reelection and successive termsEdit
Watts' 1996 reelection campaign featured state representative Ed Crocker as the Democratic candidate<ref name=NYT960926>Template:Cite news</ref> in a negative campaign.<ref name=LAT990222/> Crocker questioned Watts' business dealings because of tax issues for a real estate company of which Watts was the principal owner, and whether he was paying child support for one of his daughters born out of wedlock.<ref name=NYT960926/> Crocker suggested Watts might use drugs or sanction their use because he declined to participate in a voluntary drug screening in the House of Representatives.<ref name=NYT961008>Template:Cite news</ref> Watts denied the charge, took the test, and accused Crocker of draft dodging during the Vietnam War and later living at the "center of the West Coast drug culture."<ref name=NYT961008/> Watts was given a featured speaking role at the 1996 Republican National Convention<ref name=NYT961008/> and was re-elected with 58 percent of the vote in the 1996 U.S. House election.<ref name="clerkresults"/>
Following the election, Watts switched from the Financial Services Committee to the House Transportation Committee.<ref name=baic/> He was the only African-American Republican in the House and was chosen to deliver the Republican reply to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address in February 1997,<ref name=NYT970205/> the youngest congressman and first African-American to do so.<ref name=NYT001217/> In his response, Watts focused on providing a positive vision of the Republican Party and advocated deficit and tax reduction and faith-based values.<ref name=NYT970205/> Watts had previously spoken to The Washington Times and created controversy by criticizing "race-hustling poverty pimps"<ref name=NYT970205/> as keeping African-Americans dependent on government. These remarks were viewed as critical of activist Jesse Jackson and Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry, and Jesse Jackson Jr. demanded a public apology.<ref name=NYT970205/> Watts stated he did not speak about Barry and Jackson but about "some of the leadership in the black community."<ref name=NYT970205/>
In his 1998 reelection campaign against Democrat Ben Odom, Watts faced accusations about debts, unpaid taxes and over actions in a federal bribery investigation in 1991, where he arranged to receive campaign contributions from a lobbyist for telephone companies that were investigated during Watts' membership on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.<ref name=NYT981116/> Odom used portions of a transcript to try to discredit Watts, and the accusations were widely publicized in Oklahoma.<ref name=NYT981116/> Watts argued he had been exonerated from any criminal conduct and that his financial problems were a result of losses for Oklahoma oil and gas businesses during the 1980s.<ref name=NYT981116/> He was re-elected with 62 percent of the vote.<ref name="clerkresults"/>
From 1995 until 1997, Watts was only one of two black Republicans in Congress (along with Gary Franks of Connecticut). From 1997 until 2003, Watts was the only black Republican Congressman. There would not be another until the elections of Tim Scott and Allen West in 2010.
Leadership position and retirementEdit
In Congress, Watts had established himself as a "devoted conservative."<ref name=NYT020702>Template:Cite news</ref> He had a lifetime 94 percent rating from the American Conservative Union<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Lifetime average is given.</ref> and a lifetime "liberal quotient" of 1 percent from Americans for Democratic Action,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Scores for years 1994 through 1997 were 0, 1998 as 10, and 1999 through 2002 were 0, with an average of 1.25 percent.</ref> and was regarded as a team player by Republicans.<ref name=NYT981119/> Watts was elected House Republican Conference Chair in 1998, replacing John Boehner,<ref name=autogenerated1>Template:Cite news</ref> after a vote of 121–93.<ref name=baic/> Watts assumed the position in 1999<ref name=congressbio/> and was the first African-American Republican elected to a leadership post.<ref name=NYT981119/>
In his leadership position, Watts opposed government regulations and President Clinton's attempt to restore the ability of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He voted to impeach Bill Clinton,<ref name=LAT990222/> was appointed by Speaker Dennis Hastert to lead a group of House Republicans to investigate cybersecurity issues,<ref name=NYT000221/> and became a member of a presidential exploratory committee for George W. Bush.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Watts argued for using tax reduction to improve education, job training and housing in poor urban and rural settings, and advocated letting religious institutions carry out the work.<ref name=NYT000221/> Watts worked to make his party more inclusive, promoted African trade, supported historically black colleges and universities,<ref name=NYT020702/> and was opposed to federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
To keep a majority of House seats in the 2000 election, Watts advised Republicans to moderate their language and criticized the party for creating the perception it favored a view of "family values that excluded single mothers."<ref name=NYT000221/> Watts opposed the Confederate battle flag flying over the South Carolina State House and advised Republicans to go slowly on opposing racial quotas.<ref name=NYT000221/> By then, Watts had become involved in a contest with other members of the Republican House leadership, including Tom DeLay, over control of the party's message and nearly announced retirement in early February 2000, due to strains on his family, who remained in Oklahoma during his tenure in Washington,<ref name=baic/> but changed his mind after consultations with constituents, Hastert, and his family.<ref name=NYT000221/> He ran, despite an earlier pledge to serve not more than three terms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Watts won re-nomination with 81 percent against James Odom<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was re-elected by his largest margin yet against Democratic candidate Larry Weatherford.<ref name="clerkresults"/>
After George W. Bush took office as president, Watts co-sponsored a bill to create tax incentives for charitable donations and allow religious charities to receive federal money for social programs,<ref name=NYT010318>Template:Cite news</ref> and proposed several new tax reductions in addition to Bush's tax cut plan,<ref name=NYT010315>Template:Cite news</ref> targeting the estate tax and marriage penalty.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Watts was one of ten congressional leaders taken to an undisclosed location following the September 11 attacks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2002, Watts stated he would not seek reelection, citing a desire to spend more time with his family,<ref name=NYT020702/> but stated the decision was difficult because Rosa Parks asked him to stay.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Republicans argued Watts complained about the party message and the cancellation of an artillery system in his district by the Bush Administration, which Watts denied.<ref name=NYT020702/> Watts supported the candidacy of Tom Cole, who won the election to fill his seat.<ref name=ES090303>Template:Cite news</ref>
Post-congressional careerEdit
After he left Congress, Watts was appointed by President Bush to be a member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy for a term expiring December 30, 2003.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Watts founded a lobbying and consulting firm, J. C. Watts Companies, in Washington, D.C., to represent corporations and political groups and focus on issues he championed in Congress.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The John Deere Company hired Watts as lobbyist in 2006 and Watts later invested in a Deere dealership and sought financial support from United States agencies and others for a farm-related project in Senegal.<ref name=NYT061111>Template:Cite news</ref> Watts wrote an autobiography, wrote regular opinion columns for the Las Vegas Review-Journal,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and joined the boards of several companies, including Dillard's,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Terex,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Clear Channel Communications,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and CSX Transportation,Template:Citation needed and served as chairman of GOPAC.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
Watts supported the Iraq War in 2003, stating: "America did not become the leader of the free world by looking the other way to heinous atrocities and unspeakable evils."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was later hired as a political commentator by CNN<ref name=NYT061111/> and following the 2006 House election, Watts argued the Republican Party had lost seats because it failed to address the needs of urban areas and did not offer a positive message. He stated: "We lost our way, pure and simple."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2008, Watts announced he was developing a cable news network with the help of Comcast, focusing on an African-American audience,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and that he considered voting for Barack Obama, criticizing the Republican party for failing in outreach to the African-American community.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reports showed he contributed to John McCain, but not to Obama.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Watts considered running to succeed Brad Henry as Governor of Oklahoma in the 2010 gubernatorial election,<ref name=TO090507>Template:Cite news</ref> but declined in May 2009, citing his business and contractual obligations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On April 7, 2015, Watts joined U.S. Senator Rand Paul on stage during Paul's announcement speech for U.S. president.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
For most of 2016, Watts served as the president and CEO of Feed the Children (FTC). The board of directors announced his appointment on January 21.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On November 15, the organization and Watts announced that he was no longer serving in those roles.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following April, Watts sued both FTC and its board of directors for wrongful termination. According to Watts, he was fired after uncovering rampant financial mismanagement at the charity and notifying the state's Attorney General Office of potentially illegal practices. Feed The Children denied there was any validity to Watts' claims and proceeded to file a counter-suit against him. The case was settled in 2019, after FTC agreed to drop their counter-suit and pay Watts $1 million to resolve all his claims against them.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2019 Watts began plans to start the Black News Channel,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which launched on February 10, 2020, as a 24-hour news channel aimed at an African American audience.<ref name=upi>Former lawmaker, cable veteran launch 24-hour Black News Channel. UPI, February 10, 2020.</ref> The channel went out of business in April 2022, in the face of lagging cable and satellite provider subscriptions and an unsuccessful 2021 revamp that added commentators at odds with Watts's views.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
WritingsEdit
Electoral historyEdit
Football statisticsEdit
| Passing | Rushing | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | ATT | YDS | AVG | TD |
| 1977 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 1978 | 13 | 38 | 34.2 | 227 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 204 | 4.9 | 6 |
| 1979 | 39 | 81 | 48.2 | 785 | 4 | 5 | 123 | 455 | 3.7 | 10 |
| 1980 | 35 | 78 | 44.9 | 905 | 2 | 10 | 163 | 663 | 4.1 | 18 |
| Totals | 87 | 197 | 44.2 | 1,917 | 8 | 19 | 328 | 1,322 | 4.0 | 34 |
| Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | TEAM | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | RAT | ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | |
| Template:Cfly | OTT | 77 | 142 | 54.2 | 957 | 3 | 11 | 50.1 | — | — | — | — | |
| Template:Cfly | OTT | 175 | 358 | 48.9 | 3,089 | 18 | 20 | 72.3 | — | — | — | — | |
| Template:Cfly | OTT | 189 | 360 | 52.5 | 3,052 | 21 | 23 | 74.0 | 61 | 357 | 5.9 | 1 | |
| Template:Cfly | OTT | 236 | 439 | 53.8 | 2,975 | 12 | 25 | 60.5 | 106 | 710 | 6.7 | 1 | |
| Template:Cfly | OTT | 66 | 127 | 52.0 | 864 | 7 | 9 | 62.6 | — | — | — | — | |
| TOR | 108 | 182 | 59.3 | 1,477 | 5 | 5 | 83.1 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Totals | — | 851 | 1,608 | 52.9 | 12,414 | 66 | 93 | 67.9 | 346 | 2,312 | 6.7 | — | |
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See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
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