Thomas J. Watson Jr.

About the author

Thomas J. Watson Jr. (1914–1993) inherited IBM from his father and transformed it into a global technology powerhouse as the company's second president from 1952 to 1971.

A decorated Army Air Forces pilot turned corporate titan, he earned Fortune's striking designation as 'the greatest capitalist in history' and a place on Time's list of the 100 most influential people of the twentieth century. Beyond business, he served as U.S.

Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1979 to 1981, led the Boy Scouts of America, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.