THE KING OF CAPITALISM: THOMAS WATSON AND IBM
Monday 8 July 9pm-10pm; rpt midnight-1am; rpt Tuesday
23 July 2002 9.35pm-10.35pm
The film sets up the story of one of the greatest captains of industry, Thomas Watson the founder of IBM - arguably the world's greatest corporation, a company that has built on its success to maintain a powerful position today.
Watson built IBM around his personal ideas, and the film illustrates the cult-like working practices which built on his own incredible sales techniques to carry out his vision to transform society through business. The film poses some interesting parallels between Watson, President Roosevelt and on a darker level Adolf Hitler.
Watson's extraordinary meeting with Hitler is documented and Watson actually leaves the meeting thinking that he has "sold" the idea of peace to Hitler. The film also discusses Watson's continued business with Hitler throughout the war, asking whether being a capitalist and having a heart are incompatible.
The film then discusses the almost Shakespearean dynastic power struggle which ensues, and the ultimate succession of Thomas Watson Jr, who is able to take the company to new heights capitalising on the golden age of computers.
