Ross Perot

Ross Perot
Name	Ross Perot
Caption	Perot in 1992
Birth name	Henry Ross Perot
Birth date	27 June 1930
Birth place	Texarkana, Texas, U.S.
Death date	9 July 2019
Death place	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Education	Texarkana College
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy (BS)
Occupation	Businessman, politician, philanthropist
Party	Independent (1992–1995), Reform (1995–2000), Republican (before 1992; after 2000)
Spouse	Margot Birmingham, 1956, 2019
Children	5, including Ross Perot Jr.
Known for	Founding Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems, 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns

Ross Perot was an American business magnate, political activist, and philanthropist who became a significant figure in late 20th-century American politics. He founded the highly successful technology companies Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and Perot Systems, amassing a considerable personal fortune. Perot is best remembered for his influential third-party presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996, which reshaped the national political debate on issues like the NAFTA and the federal budget deficit.

Early life and career

Born in Texarkana, Texas, he was the son of a cotton broker and developed an early interest in business and sales. After attending Texarkana College, he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1953 and serving as a United States Navy officer. Following his military service, he began a successful career as a computer salesman for IBM in Dallas. In 1962, he founded Electronic Data Systems, a company that revolutionized data processing for corporations and government agencies, including a landmark contract with the federal Medicare program. The success of EDS, which went public in 1968, made him a billionaire and a prominent figure in the Dallas business community.

1992 presidential campaign

Launching his unlikely bid on the television program Larry King Live, he ran as an independent candidate against incumbent George H. W. Bush and challenger Bill Clinton. His campaign focused intensely on the dangers of the growing national debt, opposition to the pending NAFTA, and a pledge to "clean out the barn" of Washington, D.C. political corruption. Utilizing infomercials and grassroots organizing, he led in some national polls during the summer before briefly suspending his campaign, alleging Republican sabotage. He re-entered the race and ultimately won nearly 19% of the popular vote, one of the strongest showings for a non-major party candidate since Theodore Roosevelt.

1996 presidential campaign

For his second presidential run, he became the nominee of the newly formed Reform Party, which he helped create. His campaign again emphasized fiscal conservatism, opposition to WTO agreements, and campaign finance reform. However, the political landscape had shifted, and he faced a more unified electorate in the contest between incumbent Bill Clinton and Republican challenger Bob Dole. While he qualified for the presidential debates, his support diminished, and he received just over 8% of the popular vote. This campaign, however, solidified the Reform Party as a minor political force for several election cycles.

Political positions and legacy

His political platform was an eclectic mix of conservative economic policies and populist, anti-establishment themes. He was a fierce critic of free trade agreements, warning of a "giant sucking sound" of jobs leaving the United States. He advocated for a balanced budget amendment, stronger Social Security protections, and term limits for members of Congress. His legacy is that of a disruptive political force who demonstrated significant voter discontent with the two-party system, brought issues like the deficit to the forefront of national discourse, and influenced the rhetoric of subsequent politicians from Pat Buchanan to Donald Trump.

Business career and philanthropy

Beyond founding Electronic Data Systems, which was sold to General Motors in 1984, he later founded Perot Systems in 1988, which was acquired by Dell in 2009. He was also known for his daring, and successful, efforts to rescue two EDS employees from an Iranian prison in 1979, an operation later dramatized in a miniseries. His philanthropic efforts were substantial, with major donations to medical research, education, and historical preservation, including significant support for the United States Naval Academy and the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas.

Personal life and death

He married Margot Birmingham in 1956, and the couple had five children, including businessman and former Dallas Mavericks owner Ross Perot Jr. A lifelong patriot, he was deeply involved in veterans' affairs and supported the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In his later years, he remained a respected elder statesman in Texas business and civic circles. He died from leukemia at his home in Dallas in 2019, at the age of 89, and was interred at Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery.

Category:American businesspeople Category:American philanthropists Category:Reform Party (United States) politicians Category:1992 United States presidential candidates Category:1996 United States presidential candidates