Men in Washington - 1942

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 8th Year

Issue

Issue No.

3

Date Released

1942

Length of issue (in feet)

1772

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Men in Washington - 1942

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: Washington stands unique among American cities, for its inhabitants are engaged in only one major business - the government of the United States. Today, with all the resources of the nation and all the energies of the people called upon to wage the greatest war in world history, the American capital has become a scene of unparalleled activity. Under the pressure of war, government offices have mushroomed out in all directions, hastily constructed buildings invading stately parks and promenades, and daily disgorging throngs of workers upon a city not yet properly organised to accommodate them. Inundated by an every-mounting flood of new arrivals, most of whom are yet to be assimilated into their new homes and new jobs, Washington is still calling upon the nation for more and more workers and technicians qualified for its multitude of wartime activities. But in wartime Washington jobs are easier to get than rooms, and landlords are selling apartments from blueprints.

In wartime as in time of peace, the centre of all Washington activity is the White House, where, for the past decade, President Roosevelt has dominated the scene. Automatically with the declaration of war the President was invested with full responsibility for the conduct of the war abroad, and for mobilising the nation’s resources and manpower in support of the armed forces. For the duration, the government of the United States, as it touches the daily lives of the American people, is invested less in Congress than in the men who direct the vast network of bureaux and agencies set up by the President for the prosecution of the war. The biggest single job in the wartime government is that of Donald M. Nelson, who is head of the War Production Board, and is charged with the Herculean task of adjusting the nation’s industry to the limitless demands of war. Chief of the Office of Price Administration is Leon Henderson, controlling civilian commodities and transportation. Paul V. McNutt, former High Commissioner of the Philippines, is charged to mobilise manpower in war industry. His duty is to ensure that no bottlenecks in the supply of labour hold up production in the nation’s strategically important factories. The narrowest bottleneck in America today is that facing Admiral Emony S. Land, head of the War Shipping Administration. His duty is to see that at least twenty-four million tons of merchant ships are built by the end of 1943, to carry the munitions and food which all the United Nations must have from America if they are to survive. Henry A. Wallace is Chairman of the Board of Economic Warfare. He is the apostle of the doctrine that this war has become a people’s revolution against economic and political tyranny. Upon him rests the all-important duty of making clear America’s war aims to friend and foe alike. Elmer Davis, as director of the Office of War Information, is now the sole judge of how much news, good or bad, the American public may be allowed to have. Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet, is responsible for a navy today in action against powerful enemies on all the oceans of the world. General Marshall, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, faces the problem of waging war on a dozen dispersed fronts.

Over these men of Washington hangs the heavy responsibility for a war which began with an American disaster and which went through half a year before a single American victory could be announced. For in the long months ahead, before the United States can bring into action its full war potentiality, grave dangers must be faced, and more reserves expected. But America today is on the march with all the other freedom-loving peoples of the world. The objective total victory. Behind the nation’s armed forces - today gathering strength for the great offensive which alone can bring success - is the united determination of the American people, epitomized in the men of Washington, who, undaunted in the face of an ominous future, are resolved to make that objective a reality.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.8 No.12 of the US edition.

Keywords

Politics and government

Written sources

The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.