A study of the shifting focus of the National Guard in response to the Second World War, and how the decisions made in the 1940s affects the National Guard today.

Foreword /Roger Beaumont -- Introduction: The Last Battle for Control -- A Wall of Paper -- War in Europe -- Roosevelt's First Priority -- The Isolationist Challenge -- Immediate Action -- Adding Flesh to Skeletons -- Streamlining the Army -- Fighting for Repeal -- Avoiding a Fight -- The Baltimore Convention -- Funding, Feuds, and a Common Front -- The Campaign for Federal Funds -- The Guard Leadership Meets -- Planning for the Guard -- Dissent within the Guard -- The Guard Requests a Meeting -- The Two Sides Meet -- The AGA and NGA Hold Council -- Before the Committee -- Congressional Cuts -- Europe Blazes, Washington Debates -- War in the West -- Mobilizing the Guard? -- Searching for Alternatives -- Congressional Reaction -- Planning a Mobilization -- The June 17 Meeting -- Grenville Clark and a Peacetime Draft -- The War Department Moves toward a Draft -- The Guard's Reaction to the Draft Bill -- Roosevelt's Reluctant Moves -- Setting the Terms -- Senate Joint Resolution 286 -- Public Opinion -- 95 -- The Press and Guard React -- The Senate Debates -- The House Debates -- Conference and Compromise -- Mobilization -- Induction Planning -- Induction -- Equivocation over Extension of Service -- Aid Short of War -- Extension Legislation -- Trouble with the Guard -- Demobilization Plans -- Conclusion -- The Successful Lobby -- The Congress -- Roosevelt -- The Army -- The States -- The Law.