Tom Anderson, editor, publisher, and conservative political activist was born in Nashville, TN in 1910. Graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1934, with a major in economics, Anderson was equally interested in political science and English. During the Great Depression, he worked briefly for the Nashville Banner newspaper. Subsequently, he was employed by the J. C. Bradford Co. brokerage firm selling securities, hoping to earn money with which he could buy and publish a weekly newspaper. He also worked as an ad salesman for the Southern Agriculturist, a monthly periodical published in Nashville, TN, in hopes of advancing to a journalist position. At the Southern Agriculturist, Anderson's forceful style of writing gained him recognition for his fearless attacks against leftists and Communism.

Later, as publisher and editor of Farm and Ranch magazine, a monthly, then weekly publication, based in Dallas, TX which had absorbed the Southern Agriculturist in 1950, Anderson was the supervising editor and author of the column "Straight Talk," which appeared on the magazine's editorial page. Anderson's column became possibly the most-quoted and most-reprinted in the area of agriculture publishing. Each month more than 375 newspapers requested permission to reprint "Straight Talk". A book, also titled Straight Talk, was eventually published, reprinting editorials by Tom Anderson, with reader comments reprinted from Farm and Ranch, the third edition appearing in 1958.

Anderson has appeared on television and radio programs. He is a past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association, a member of the Council of the John Birch Society, and is a member of the Methodist Church. He ran as a candidate for Vice-President of the United States in 1972, and for President in 1976, both times on the American Party ticket. He retired to Gatlinburg, TN.