As the official responsible for industrial mobilization and procurement for the army and the air force, Robert P. Patterson played a uniquely important role in mobilizing the Arsenal of Democracy. In this comprehensive study, Keith E. Eiler documents Judge Patterson's extraordinary and largely unrecognized contributions to the defense and war efforts. He also offers a provocative count of the manner in which the national government managed to transform itself for war, and convert a vast market-oriented economy into an effective war machine. At the same time, the author sheds revealing new light on numerous issues of war policy and on the evolution of civil-military relations during the emergency. Judge Patterson emerges from the study as a self-effacing public servant of unusual ability and character.

pt. 1.Call to arms (1940-1941) -- ch. 1. Student, soldier, lawyer, judge -- ch. 2. Return to action -- ch. 3. Hearing a different kind of case -- ch. 4. Pushing procurement -- ch. 5. Managing mobilization -- ch. 6. Personnel for the new army -- ch. 7. Materiel for the new army -- ch. 8. War Department and the Negro -- ch. 9. Labor issues in defense industry -- ch. 10. Shortages in basic materials -- ch. 11. Conversion and its discontents -- ch. 12. Patience and perseverance -- pt. 2. War (1941-1945) -- ch. 13. Great new crisis -- ch. 14. Seeking manpower for a burgeoning army -- ch. 15. Crises in rubber and gasoline -- ch. 16. Organizing manpower for the home front: 1942 -- ch. 17. Close eye on prices and profits -- ch. 18. Cooperation and conflict with the WPB -- ch. 19. Chronic muddle of manpower: 1943 -- ch. 20. Lures of untimely reconversion: 1944 -- ch. 21. Agonies of the hard last lap ̲1945 -- pt. 3. Aftermath (1945-1947) -- ch. 22. Changing the guard -- ch. 23. Forces melt away -- ch. 24. Reaction and the record .