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==Congressional career==

==Congressional career==

In 1962, Watson first ran for his state's 2nd congressional district]] seat in the U.S. House to fill the opening created when the temporary Democratic representative, Corinne Boyd Riley (1893-1979) of Sumter, did not seek a full term. She had succeeded her husband, John Jacob Riley (1895-1962), who died in office on [[New Years Day]] 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=206|title=Corinne Boyd Wiley|publisher=womenincongress.house.gov|accessdate=December 21, 2011}}</ref> Watson secured the Democratic nomination and then faced Floyd Davidson Spence (1928-2001), a fellow state representative from neighboring Lexington County who had turned Republican a few months earlier. The ensuing [[general election]] was far closer than expected, with Watson winning by only five percentage points, with crucial support from his mentor, U.S. Senator [[Strom Thurmond]]. The Columbia-based district was the first in the state to come under growing Republican influence.

In 1962, Watson first ran for his state's 2nd congressional district]] seat in the U.S. House to fill the opening created when the temporary Democratic representative, Corinne Boyd Riley (1893-1979) of Sumter, did not seek a full term. She had succeeded her husband, John Jacob Riley (1895-1962), who died in office on [[New Years' Day]] 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=206|title=Corinne Boyd Wiley|publisher=womenincongress.house.gov|accessdate=December 21, 2011}}</ref> Watson secured the Democratic nomination and then faced Floyd Davidson Spence (1928-2001), a fellow state representative from neighboring Lexington County who had turned Republican a few months earlier. The ensuing [[general election]] was far closer than expected, with Watson winning by only five percentage points, with crucial support from his mentor, U.S. Senator [[Strom Thurmond]]. The Columbia-based district was the first in the state to come under growing Republican influence.

Like Thurmond, Watson was a [[Segregation|segregationist]]. Both supported [[Barry Goldwater]]'s campaign for U.S. President. On September 17, 1964, Thurmond bolted to the Republicans, and Watson headed the South Carolina "Democrats for Goldwater" organization. Partly because of his support for Goldwater, Watson was reelected without opposition as Goldwater carried South Carolina, the first Republican to have done so since [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] of [[Ohio]] in 1876. However, the House Democratic Caucus stripped Watson, along with Representative and later Governor [[John Bell Williams]] of [[Mississippi]], of his seniority for supporting Goldwater. Watson then declared affiliation with the [[Republican Party|GOP]], resigned from Congress on February 1, 1965, and sought his former position as a Republican in a [[special election]] held on June 15, 1965.

Like Thurmond, Watson was a [[Segregation|segregationist]]. Both supported [[Barry Goldwater]]'s campaign for U.S. President. On September 17, 1964, Thurmond bolted to the Republicans, and Watson headed the South Carolina "Democrats for Goldwater" organization. Partly because of his support for Goldwater, Watson was reelected without opposition as Goldwater carried South Carolina, the first Republican to have done so since [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] of [[Ohio]] in 1876. However, the House Democratic Caucus stripped Watson, along with Representative and later Governor [[John Bell Williams]] of [[Mississippi]], of his seniority for supporting Goldwater. Watson then declared affiliation with the [[Republican Party|GOP]], resigned from Congress on February 1, 1965, and sought his former position as a Republican in a [[special election]] held on June 15, 1965.

As the lone Republican candidate in the special election, Watson carried the backing of Floyd Spence, Strom Thurmond, and Democrat former Governor [[James Byrnes|James Francis Byrnes]]. The Democrats nominated [[Preston Calison|Preston Harvey Callison, Sr.]], a state senator who described himself as a "Mendel Rivers Democrat," a reference to Lucius Mendel Rivers (1905-1970), the long-time chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from South Carolina. Later president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Callison was considered "moderate" because he urged compliance with the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], which [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] had signed into law on July 2, 1964. By contrast, Watson equated the Civil Rights Act to the supremacy of minority rights over those of the southern white majority.<ref>Billy Hathorn, "The Changing Politics of Race: Congressman Albert William Watson and the South Carolina Republican Party, 1965-1970," ''South Carolina Historical Magazine'' Vol. 89 (October 1988), p. 230.</ref>

As the lone Republican candidate in the special election, Watson carried the backing of Floyd Spence, Strom Thurmond, and Democrat former Governor [[James Byrnes|James Francis Byrnes]]. The Democrats nominated [[Preston Callison|Preston Harvey Callison, Sr.]], a state senator who described himself as a "Mendel Rivers Democrat," a reference to Lucius Mendel Rivers (1905-1970), the long-time chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from South Carolina. Later president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Callison was considered "moderate" because he urged compliance with the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], which [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] had signed into law on July 2, 1964. By contrast, Watson equated the Civil Rights Act to the supremacy of minority rights over those of the southern white majority.<ref>Billy Hathorn, "The Changing Politics of Race: Congressman Albert William Watson and the South Carolina Republican Party, 1965-1970," ''South Carolina Historical Magazine'' Vol. 89 (October 1988), p. 230.</ref>

Elder Democratic figure James Byrnes, who had endorsed Republican [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] for president in 1952, branded the caucus action in which Watson lost his seniority as "punishment and humiliation" and urged voters to return Watson to Congress as the newest Republican member. Watson secured $20,000 and the services of a Republican field representative in what he termed "quite a contrast" to his treatment by House Democrats.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' Vol. 23 (June 18, 1965), p. 1185; Bernard Cosman and Robert J. Huckshorn, eds., ''Republican Politics: The 1964 Campaign and Its Aftermath for the Party'' (New York: Praeger, 1968), pp. 147-148.</ref>   

Elder Democratic figure James Byrnes, who had endorsed Republican [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] for president in 1952, branded the caucus action in which Watson lost his seniority as "punishment and humiliation" and urged voters to return Watson to Congress as the newest Republican member. Watson secured $20,000 and the services of a Republican field representative in what he termed "quite a contrast" to his treatment by House Democrats.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' Vol. 23 (June 18, 1965), p. 1185; Bernard Cosman and Robert J. Huckshorn, eds., ''Republican Politics: The 1964 Campaign and Its Aftermath for the Party'' (New York: Praeger, 1968), pp. 147-148.</ref>   

   

   

Watson won the special election with 69 percent of the vote to become the first Republican to represent South Carolina in the House since 1896. He was comfortably reelected in 1966 and 1968. Watson's opposition to [[civil rights]] legislation exceeded that of most other Southern Republicans. For instance, he was the only House Republican to vote against the Jury Selection Act of 1968, a civil rights measure intended to eliminate racial discrimination in jury selection.

Watson won the special election with 69 percent of the vote to become the first Republican to represent South Carolina in the House since 1896. He was comfortably reelected in 1966 and 1968. Watson's opposition to [[civil rights]] legislation exceeded that of most other Southern Republicans. For instance, he was the only House Republican to vote against the Jury Selection Act of 1968, a civil rights measure intended to eliminate racial discrimination in jury selection.

==Watson v. West==

==Watson v. West==