Mobilizing America: Robert P. Patterson and the War Effort, 1940–1945 9781501723872

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llf)IIII~IZINC) illll~llJ(jJl ROBERT P. PATTERSON AND THE WAR EFFORT

1940-1945 Ii I~ I'r II

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ITHACA AND LONDON

Cornell University Press gratefully acknowledges a grant from the William Nelson Cromwell Foundation which aided in bringing this book to publication. Finch, Pruyn & Company, Incorporated, has generously donated the paper for the first printing of this book. Copyright© 1997 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof; must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 1997 by Cornell University Press. Printed in the United States of America. Cornell University Press strives to utilize environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and acid-free papers that are also either recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Eiler, Keith E., 1920Mobilizing America : Robert P. Patterson and the war effort, 1940-1945 I Keith E. Eiler. p. em. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN o-Soq-2276--o (cloth: alk. paper) 1. Patterson, Robert Porter, 1891-1952. 2. World War, 1939-1945War work-United States. 3. World War, 1939-1945-United States. 4· Cabinet officers-United States-Biography. I. Title. D76g.E55 1997 940.53'73-dC21 97-24827 Cloth printing

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TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER AND FATHER, RUTH AND GEORGE EILER

... How well in thee appears The constant service of the antique world, When service sweat for duty, not for meed! Thou art not for the fashion of these times, Where none will sweat but for promotion, And having that, do choke their service up Even with the having. It is not so with thee.

-As You Like It, 2.3.56-62 (Lines 56-57 quoted by Learned Hand in tribute to Robert P. Patterson)

Throughout the war our aim has been to make our enemies fight on our terms. Those terms are sheer weight of arms; we would rather hurl a ton of ammunition at the enemy than lose a single American life. As a great, productive nation, we are fully capable of fighting that kind of war-a mechanized war; a war of oveiWhelming strength on the battlefield, backed by overwhelming production on the home front. -Robert P. Patterson, in an interview with the Chicago Daily News, January 19, 1945

Preface Acknowledgments A Note on Sources

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INTRODUCTION

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Student, Soldier, Lawyer, Judge A Retum to Action Hearing a Different Kind of Case Pushing Procurement Managing Mobilization Personnel for the New Army Materiel for the New Army The War Department and the Negro Labor Issues in Defense Industry Shortages in Basic Materials Conversion and Its Discontents Patience and Perseverance

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VIII CONTENTS

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A Great New Crisis Seeking Manpower for a Burgeoning Army Crises in Rubber and Gasoline Organizing Manpower for the Home Front: 1942 A Close Eye on Prices and Profits Cooperation and Conflict with the WPB The Chronic Muddle of Manpower: 1943 The Lures of Untimely Reconversion: 1944 The Agonies of the Hard Last Lap: 1945 l,iUl'l' 'I'IIIUm:

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369 389

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