MUMBAI: Former US congressman J C Watts Jr will join CNN as a regular contributor to offer analysis on politics and policy for programs throughout the network. The announcement was made by CNN US president Jon Klein.
"J C is one of the most respected and effective conservative communicators in the nation’s capital. We are glad to welcome him to the CNN team and look forward to his insightful contributions to our network," Klein said.
Watts was elected to the US Congress from the fourth district of Oklahoma in 1994. In 1998, he was elected by his peers to serve as chairman of the Republican Conference, the fourth-ranking leadership position in the majority party in the US House of Representatives.
As a member of Congress, Watts served for eight years on the House Armed Services Committee and later on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security. Watts was the author of president George W Bush’s faith-based initiative, the Community Solutions Act of 2001.
Currently, Watts is the chairman of the J C Watts Companies, where he owns and operates several businesses and works with clients on business growth and public affairs strategies. He advises or serves as a corporate director for several major companies, including John Deere, Wells Fargo, Nascar, SBC Communications, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Clear Channel Communications, Dillard’s Department Stores and Terex Corporation. Watts also writes a bi-monthly column for more than a dozen newspapers.
He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. At Oklahoma, Watts was quarterback for the Sooners, leading them to two consecutive Big Eight championships and Orange Bowl victories.