Biography of Jesse H. Jones and what led him to his duties at the White House under Roosevelt.

"Illustrated with photos" Includes index.

Part I: The school of experience -- A boy and his forebears -- Free enterprise at fourteen -- A bit of wandering -- Years in the lumber business -- Part II: A city is born -- Mr. Jones goes to Houston -- Jones weathers a storm -- The lure of building -- Banks, the bayou, and the canal -- Part III: Wider Horizons -- Washington in World War I -- Back to main street -- The illness of Woodrow Wilson -- A democrat serves his party -- A convention comes to Houston -- Part IV: The battle for the banks -- The depression comes to Houston -- Jones joins the RFC -- Changing crews in a hurricane -- Reconstructing the banking system -- Converting the saved -- Part V: From depression to war -- Rescue of the railroads -- The many-sided RFC -- The Jones pattern of management -- Jones' relations with the White House -- The house of Jesse -- Honors, promotions, and politics -- Part VI: The sinews of war -- Mobilizing metals and other materials -- Building plants and homes -- Unnecessary controversy over necessary rubber -- War within war -- Part VII: The parting of the ways -- Fraying bonds with the White House -- Ite, Missa Est -- Part VIII: Home from the wars -- From war to peace -- The last years -- An appraisal -- Afterword.