Otto Scott
Encyclopedia
Otto Scott was a journalist and author of corporate histories who also wrote biographies on notable figures such as the abolitionist John Brown
, James I of England
and Robespierre.
and was the son of a broker. Constantly troubled in his youth, he was unable to complete high school, yet with his initiative he was able to get work as a reporter for a newspaper in Fort Eustis, Virginia
when he was 16 years old. He then worked for United Features Syndicate and the San Diego Union. When World War II broke out, he joined the United States Merchant Marine
.
After the war, Scott worked in the advertising industry, then became editor of a manufacturing trade journal, Rubber World. In the course of his assignments, he interviewed Paul Blazer, the chairman of Ashland Oil, in Ashland, Kentucky
, and was invited to write the history of the company. "He changed my life because he gave me a new trade," Scott says of the company chairman. "I didn't know I could write a book." From this beginning he worked on books in his later years detailing the corporate histories of Raytheon
, Black & Decker
and Arch Mineral Corporation.
In his later years, he worked for Chalcedon Foundation
and went on to publish his own newsletter The Compass which commented on events in history and present-day cultural affairs.
After suffering a fall in 2004 at his home near Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, Otto returned to Federal Way, Washington
to spend the last years of his life. He died in Issaquah, Washington
on May 5, 2006.
According to scholars Edward Sebesta and Euan Hague, however, Scott's contributions as a historian and activist were closely linked to Neo-Confederate
Christian activists, and his ideological opposition to the historic abolitionist, civil rights
, and anti-apartheid movements is a matter of record. Scott's hostility toward the abolitionist John Brown
is particularly evident in his work, The Secret Six: John Brown and the Abolition Movement. While Scott was clearly a capable scholar, this work shows no primary research and a naked dependence upon the earlier anti-Brown biography by James C. Malin, a work that has long been discredited by Brown scholars.
Otto Scott is credited for inventing the phrase, made popular by President Richard Nixon, "the silent majority
". Otto Scott wrote a speech for the CEO of Ashland Oil, "The Silent Majority", delivered to the Chicago Men's Club (May 23, 1968).
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
, James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
and Robespierre.
Early life
Otto Joseph Scott was born Otto Scott-Estrella, Jr. in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and was the son of a broker. Constantly troubled in his youth, he was unable to complete high school, yet with his initiative he was able to get work as a reporter for a newspaper in Fort Eustis, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
when he was 16 years old. He then worked for United Features Syndicate and the San Diego Union. When World War II broke out, he joined the United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
.
After the war, Scott worked in the advertising industry, then became editor of a manufacturing trade journal, Rubber World. In the course of his assignments, he interviewed Paul Blazer, the chairman of Ashland Oil, in Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
, and was invited to write the history of the company. "He changed my life because he gave me a new trade," Scott says of the company chairman. "I didn't know I could write a book." From this beginning he worked on books in his later years detailing the corporate histories of Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
, Black & Decker
Black & Decker
Black & Decker Corporation is a corporation based in Towson, Maryland, United States, that designs and imports power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement products, and technology based fastening systems...
and Arch Mineral Corporation.
Later life and conversion to Christianity
After writing biographies on notable figures in history, a major event occurred in his life which was his conversion to Christianity. Not a regular churchgoer by any stretch of the imagination, Otto said in an interview for Insight Magazine that he read the Four Gospels in one night and was converted shortly thereafter.In his later years, he worked for Chalcedon Foundation
Chalcedon Foundation
The Chalcedon Foundation is a Christian Reconstructionist organization founded by Rousas John Rushdoony. Named for the Council of Chalcedon, it has also included well-known theologians such as Gary North, who later founded his own organization, the Institute for Christian Economics.The Chalcedon...
and went on to publish his own newsletter The Compass which commented on events in history and present-day cultural affairs.
After suffering a fall in 2004 at his home near Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, Otto returned to Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
to spend the last years of his life. He died in Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
on May 5, 2006.
According to scholars Edward Sebesta and Euan Hague, however, Scott's contributions as a historian and activist were closely linked to Neo-Confederate
Neo-confederate
Neo-Confederate is a term used by some academics and political activists to describe the views of various groups and individuals who have a positive belief system concerning the historical experience of the Confederate States of America, the Southern secession, and the Southern United...
Christian activists, and his ideological opposition to the historic abolitionist, civil rights
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, and anti-apartheid movements is a matter of record. Scott's hostility toward the abolitionist John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
is particularly evident in his work, The Secret Six: John Brown and the Abolition Movement. While Scott was clearly a capable scholar, this work shows no primary research and a naked dependence upon the earlier anti-Brown biography by James C. Malin, a work that has long been discredited by Brown scholars.
Otto Scott is credited for inventing the phrase, made popular by President Richard Nixon, "the silent majority
Silent majority
The silent majority is an unspecified large majority of people in a country or group who do not express their opinions publicly. The term was popularized by U.S...
". Otto Scott wrote a speech for the CEO of Ashland Oil, "The Silent Majority", delivered to the Chicago Men's Club (May 23, 1968).
Career highlights
- United Feature Syndicate, New York City, 1939–40
- Diamond & Sherwood, San Francisco, CA, 1948–53
- Globaltronix de Venezuela, Caracas, vice-president, 1954–56
- Mohr Associates, New York City, vice-president, 1957–59
- Becker, Scott & Associates, New York City, vice-president, 1960–63
- Rubber World, New York City, editor, 1964–67
- Ashland Oil, Inc., Ashland, KY, assistant to chair, 1968–69
- Compass Newsletter, 1993(?)–2005