James Watt

[[File:James g watt.png|165px|thumb|right|James Watt]]
{{uspolitics}}
'''James Gaius Watt''' {{lived|January 31, 1938|May 27, 2023}}<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/us/politics/james-watt-dead.html James G. Watt, Polarizing Interior Secretary Under Reagan, Dies at 85]</ref> was a political figure most infamous for his actions during the administration of [[Ronald Reagan]], where he served as Secretary of the Interior. Called one of the most "intensely controversial and blatantly anti-environmental political appointees" in American history,<ref>[https://grist.org/politics/griscom-reagan/ A look back at Reagan’s environmental record]</ref> he grew infamous during his time working for the White House due to his bombastic and frequently nonsensical statements that were downright concerning for somebody in his position.

==Highlights of his time working for Reagan==
[[File:Mad234backprintid.jpg|165px|thumb|right|Issue of Mad Magazine which lists various scandals Watt had.<ref>[https://www.madcoversite.com/mad234.html Mad #234 October 1982]</ref>]]
During his time working for Reagan, he did all of the following:
*Told Congress "I do not know how many future generations we can count on before he [[Second Coming|Lord returns]]."<ref name=Paul>''The Clothes Have No Emperor: A Chronicle of the American 80s'' by Paul Slansky</ref>{{rp|18}}
*Warned "liberals of the [[Jewish]] community" that if they oppose his policy "they will weaken our ability to be a good friend of [[Israel]]."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|46}}
*Said that he will "never use the words [[Democrats]] and [[Republicans]]. It's [[liberals]] and Americans."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|48}}
*Explained that "I speak in black-and-white terms without much gray in my life. I see problems without the complexity that is confusing a lot of people."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|48}}
*Called environmentalists "A left-wing [[cult]] dedicated to bringing down the type of government I believe in."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|48}} Later, he said of the same group "Look what happened to [[Nazi analogies|Germany in the 1930s]]… The dignity of man was subordinated to the powers of [[Nazism]]… Those are the forces that this can evolve into."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|60}} He also said [[Nazi analogies|those who fail to speak out against abortion are similar to "the forces that created the Holocaust]]."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|71}}
*Said of [[Native Americans]], "If you want an example of the failures of [[socialism]], don't go to [[Russia]]. Come to America, and see the American Indian reservations."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|60}}
*Tried to ban [[rock music]] from an Independence Day parade.<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|64}}
*Said of his [[coal]]-leasing commission, "We have every kind of mix you can have. I have a [[African American|black]], I have a woman, two Jews and a [[Disability|cripple]]."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|72}} During [[Larry Flynt]]'s satirical Presidential run in 1984, he said he planned to have "a black, a woman, two Jews, a cripple, a homosexual, an Oriental… and a Mexican in my Cabinet."<ref name=Paul/>{{rp|73}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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[[Category:Ableism]]
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[[Category:Right-wing activists]]
[[Category:Sexists]]

Categories: Ableism, Anti-abortion activists, Antisemites, Christians, Former U.S. Cabinet Members, Racists, Right-wing activists, Sexists