Ross Perot

Ross Perot – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Ross Perot (1930–2019), American businessman, philanthropist, and two-time independent presidential candidate, reshaped U.S. politics and the information technology business. Explore his life, philosophy, and enduring quotes.

Introduction

Henry Ross Perot was more than a Texas entrepreneur—he was a disruptor, a populist voice, and a figure who challenged the two-party norms of American politics. His business success in technology (especially data services) provided the basis for his bold political ambitions. Though he never held elective office, his 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns left a lasting imprint on U.S. political discourse. His life intertwines innovation, conviction, and controversy.

Early Life and Family

Ross Perot was born on June 27, 1930 in Texarkana, Texas. Gabriel Ross Perot Sr., a commodity broker who traded cotton contracts, and Lula May (Ray) Perot. Gabriel Perot Jr., who died as a toddler, and some sources note that he later changed or adopted “Ross” as his middle name to honor that deceased brother.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Perot took on small jobs at a young age, delivering newspapers and doing odd tasks, which taught him work ethic and the value of persistence. Boy Scouts of America and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout—a formative experience he later cited in shaping his values of service, discipline, and leadership.

He attended local schools in Texarkana and then enrolled at Texarkana Junior College before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1949.

In 1956, he married Margot Birmingham, whom he met via a blind date.

Ross Perot passed away on July 9, 2019, in Dallas, Texas, after battling leukemia. He was 89 years old.

Business Career & Achievements

IBM and the Birth of EDS

After leaving the Navy in 1957, Perot joined IBM as a salesman. He was highly successful, often exceeding quotas rapidly, and became disillusioned by the constraints of bureaucracy and corporate structure. Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in Dallas, Texas.

EDS offered >

In 1968, EDS went public with a highly successful stock offering, and Perot’s personal wealth grew significantly. General Motors acquired a controlling interest in EDS for about $2.4 billion.

After some disagreements with GM’s management over the direction of EDS, Perot departed and in 1988 founded Perot Systems, focusing on IT services and consulting. Dell in 2009 for about $3.9 billion.

Meanwhile, Perot also invested in other ventures, such as NeXT, the computer company founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple.

Philanthropy & Public Service

Perot did not limit himself to business. He engaged in philanthropic efforts and public causes—especially drawing attention to POW/MIA (Prisoner of War / Missing in Action) issues from the Vietnam War era.

He also used his wealth to support educational, civic, and historical preservation causes.

Political Career & Ideology

Entering Politics

Perot’s transition into politics was gradual but marked by his dissatisfaction with government inefficiency, rising national debt, and foreign entanglements. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he became an outspoken critic of trade policies, military interventions, and special-interest influence in Washington.

In 1992, he launched a campaign for U.S. president as an independent, advocating deficit reduction, tax reform, greater fiscal discipline, and citizen participation (e.g. via “electronic democracy”). over 19.7 million votes—about 18.9% of the popular vote—though he won no electoral votes.

In 1996, Perot again ran—this time as the candidate of the Reform Party, which had formed out of grassroots support from his earlier campaign. 8.4% of the popular vote.

Political Principles & Key Positions

Perot did not align cleanly with left or right; his ideals are often described as pragmatic populism. Some of his principal themes:

• Fiscal responsibility & balanced budgets: Perot insisted government spending should not exceed revenues, and he warned against mounting national debt.

• Trade skepticism / opposition to NAFTA: He warned that free-trade deals would outsource American jobs and hollow out domestic industry. During a debate he famously spoke of a “giant sucking sound” of jobs leaving the U.S.

• Government reform & anti-corruption: He supported reducing special interest influence (e.g. limiting PACs), a line-item veto for the president, elimination of “pork barrel” spending, and stricter accountability in government.

• Citizen engagement / direct democracy tools: He championed the use of technology and forums (e.g. “electronic town halls”) to allow ordinary citizens more input in policy.

• Noninterventionism / cautious foreign policy: He criticized U.S. involvement in wars (notably opposing Gulf War) and emphasized that the country should first fix its domestic issues.

Though he never held office, his political campaigns drew attention to structural issues in U.S. governance and challenged the dominance of the two-party system.

Legacy & Influence

Ross Perot’s legacy is multifaceted:

• In politics, his 1992 campaign remains one of the most successful third-party or independent efforts in U.S. history by vote share. He helped shift public conversation toward fiscal discipline, government accountability, and trade policy scrutiny.

• His use of mass media, infomercials, and direct communication methods presaged later campaign strategies in the digital era.

• In business, Perot helped pioneer outsourcing and IT service models that became central to the global information economy. EDS and Perot Systems together had significant influence in how companies and governments managed data and operations.

• His philanthropic and civic engagements, especially in advocacy for POW/MIA awareness, added a moral and service dimension to his public persona.

• Perot’s blend of business acumen and public voice has inspired future entrepreneurs and outsider candidates who challenge establishment politics.

However, critics note his campaigns lacked detailed policy coherence in many areas, and some decisions—such as his temporary withdrawal in 1992—drew skepticism and disillusionment among supporters.

Personality & Character

Ross Perot projected the image of a Texan self-made man: direct, forceful, confident, and unafraid to clash with elites. He was often described as stubborn and controlling, preferring to retain authority rather than defer to advisors. Yet he also combined integrity (by his measure) with patriotism and civic purpose.

He prized discipline, detail, and personal accountability—values he carried from his military and Boy Scout experiences. He was famously competitive, especially in sales and business.

Perot was not a polished ideologue but rather a problem-solver who believed in data, numbers, and common sense. His rhetoric could be blunt and populist, but he also sought to ground his arguments in measurable metrics and skepticism of abstract political ideology.

Famous Quotes of Ross Perot

Below are some of Ross Perot’s notable quotes that reflect his worldview:

“If you see a snake, just kill it — don’t appoint a committee on snakes.”

“A vision without execution is just hallucination.”

“A great performance is when you can do something you don’t have to do.”

“You teach a person to fish and you feed them for life; you don’t just give them a fish.”

“I’m a problem solver, not a politician. I don’t do sound bites.”

“Poor people got where they are because they have formed the habit of doing without daily and have learned to be satisfied with less.”

“The victims of life are in direct proportion to our complacency.”

“If we’re going to do anything to get this country turned around, we have to do things differently.”

These capture his direct rhetorical style, emphasis on action over rhetoric, and belief in individual responsibility.

Lessons from Ross Perot

1. Entrepreneurial vision can fuel public ambition. Perot’s business success gave him the resources and credibility to enter national politics.

2. Outsider voices can shift discourse. Even without winning, a candidate outside the mainstream can set agendas, reframe issues, and influence the dominant parties.

3. Numbers and accountability matter. He often challenged politicians with balance sheets, deficits, and measurable outcomes—urging more financial rigor.

4. Communication matters. Perot’s success in reaching the public directly presaged how future campaigns would bypass traditional media.

5. Execution is as important as vision. He believed boldly—but also stressed that ideas must be implemented, not merely stated.

6. Authenticity resonates. Perot projected a persona that appealed to many Americans frustrated with political elites, signaling that integrity matters in public life.

Conclusion

Ross Perot’s life embodies the intersection of business and politics, showing how private success can incubate public ambition. Though he never held elective office, his bold campaigns and insistence on fiscal responsibility, open government, and citizen engagement left an enduring mark on U.S. political culture.

His example teaches us that disruptors can shape, not just challenge, the status quo—and that consistency, conviction, and willingness to risk can make a difference even outside institutional power.