Thomas John Watson Sr. was an American businessman, who served as the President, Chairman, and CEO of International Business Machines or IBM as we call it, from 1914 to 1956.
In the early 1940’s, some on the board of directors were lobbying to remove Watson as IBM’s President because inventories were too high. It was after the depression and business was not flourishing and they wanted Tom Watson out.
At that very time, a large government bid, approaching a million dollars, was on the table. The IBM Corporation and especially Thomas J. Watson Sr. needed every deal.