Byrnes had previously been head of the Office of Economic Stabilization, which controlled prices and taxes.
The OWM supervised the OES, and also the War Production Board and other agencies.
It was re-titled the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion on October 3, 1944.
Byrnes' authority as head of the OWM was so far-reaching, he was dubbed the "assistant President".
This World War II article is a stub.