Ross Perot
Ross Perot was an American businessman and politician who ran for president as an independent in 1992 and 1996.
His folksy Texas manner, charts-and-graphs style, and warnings about the national debt made him the most successful third-party candidate in modern U.S. history, winning 19% of the popular vote in 1992.
He founded Electronic Data Systems and later Perot Systems.
Free from external control
- third-partyExternal, uninvolved entity
- infomercialsLong-form television advertisements
- chartsVisual data displays
- graphsVisual data displays
deficit · national debt · NAFTA · Larry King · debates · running mate · Stockdale · petition
Independent-minded rule-breaker
- anti-establishmentOpposing dominant institutions
- plain-spokenSpeaking without ornament
- straight talkHonest, direct communication
- folksyInformally friendly and simple
Texan · can-do · no-nonsense · self-funded · unconventional · protest vote
Successful through own efforts
- wealthAbundance of valuable resources
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- net worthAssets less debts
tycoon · magnate · assets · investor · Dallas · Texas · estate · private jet
Politician demanding spending cuts
- balanced budgetSpending matching revenue
- national debtGovernment's accumulated borrowing
- spending cutsReducing governmental expenditures
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
reform · entitlements · trade policy · protectionism · economic nationalism · fiscal responsibility
Multinational technology corporation
- veterans affairsAgency serving former military
- VietnamSoutheast Asian coastal nation
- hostagesCaptives held for demands
- IranIslamic republic in Asia
patriotism · service · duty · honor · military reform
independent
Free from external control
- third-partyExternal, uninvolved entity
- infomercialsLong-form television advertisements
- chartsVisual data displays
graphs · deficit · national debt · NAFTA · Larry King · debates · running mate · Stockdale · petition · volunteers
maverick
Independent-minded rule-breaker
- anti-establishmentOpposing dominant institutions
- plain-spokenSpeaking without ornament
- straight talkHonest, direct communication
folksy · Texan · can-do · no-nonsense · self-funded · unconventional · protest vote
self-made
Successful through own efforts
- wealthAbundance of valuable resources
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
net worth · tycoon · magnate · assets · investor · Dallas · Texas · estate · private jet · computer industry
deficit hawk
Politician demanding spending cuts
- balanced budgetSpending matching revenue
- national debtGovernment's accumulated borrowing
- spending cutsReducing governmental expenditures
accountability · reform · entitlements · trade policy · protectionism · economic nationalism · fiscal responsibility
IBM
Multinational technology corporation
- veterans affairsAgency serving former military
- VietnamSoutheast Asian coastal nation
- hostagesCaptives held for demands
Iran · patriotism · service · duty · honor · military reform
- Business IconsRockefeller, Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan
- Famous TexansSam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, LBJ
- politicianspoliticians, Joe Biden, congressman, Nancy Pelosi, senator
- Scottish heritageScottish clans, highland clans, Campbell, MacDonald, Stewart
- tycoonsoil tycoon, tycoons, railroad tycoon, John Rockefeller, magnates
- DemagoguesAdolf Hitler, Hitler, Joseph McCarthy, McCarthy, George Wallace
Ross PerotBob Dole
Dick Cheney · Ted Kennedy · Al Gore · Mitch McConnell · Hillary Clinton
Ross PerotBill Clinton