Dedicated in 1932, the statue honors Georgian politician Thomas E. Watson, who served terms in the United States Congress as both a Representative and Senator in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Born September 5, 1856,[1] he initially rose to prominence as an advocate against lynching and a proponent for expanding suffrage to African Americans.

[2] In the 1908 United States presidential election, he ran as a candidate for the People's Party,[2] by which time he had changed his positions and had become an ardent supporter of white supremacy and espoused anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic sentiment.

[2][3] This move came during a major renovation project on the building's west steps, with the decision to permanently relocate the statue rather than temporarily removing it expected to save between $50,000 and $60,000.

[8] The move was supported by the Anti-Defamation League and civil rights leaders,[9][6] while criticized by the Sons of Confederate Veterans as "an attempt to rewrite or cover up … history.