The United States maintained its Representative Democracy government structure throughout World War II. Certain expediencies were taken within the existing structure of the Federal government, such as conscription and other violations of civil liberties, and the internment and later dispersal of Japanese-Americans. Still, elections were held as scheduled in 1944.
The United States entered World War II with the same Administration that had been at the helm of the nation since 1932, that of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This Administration had been preparing for war for a while by the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Vice President Henry A. Wallace won the election of 1940, and were at the helm of the nation as it prepared for and entered World War II. Roosevelt sought and won an unprecedented fourth term in office in 1944, but this time with Harry S. Truman as his Vice President. Roosevelt, who had been a victim of Polio early in life, died in April 1945, and Truman assumed the Presidency through the end of the war.
Secretary of StateCordell Hull pre-war to November 1944Edward Stettinius to war's endSecretary of the InteriorHarold Ickes throughout the warSecretary of CommerceJesse H. Jones pre-war to June 1945Henry A. Wallace to war's endSecretary of the TreasuryHenry Morgenthau Jr. pre-war to June 1945Carl Vinson to war's endSecretary of LaborFrancis Perkins pre-war to June 1945Schwellenback to war's endSecretary of WarHenry L. Stimson throughout the warSecretary of the NavyFrank Knox pre-war to May 1944James V. Forrestal to war's endSecretary of AgricultureClaude Wickard pre-war to June 1945Anderson to war's endPostmaster GeneralFrank C. Walker pre-war to June 1945Hannegan to war's endAttorney GeneralFrancis Biddle pre-war to June 1945Tom C. Clark to war's endDirector of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationJ. Edgar Hoover throughout the warForeign Economic Administration under Director Crowley, formed September 1943 from the Office of Economic Warfare, the Office of Lend Lease Administration, and the Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations.Office of Price Administration under Administrators Henderson, Brown, and Bowles, formed April 1941 (originally named the Office of Price Administration and Civilian Supply).Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion under Chairmen Byrnes and Vinson, formed in May 1943 as the Office of War Mobilization.War Production Board under Chairmen Nelson and King, formed in January 1942 from the Office of Production Management and the Supply Priorities and Allocation Board.Economic Stabilization Board under Chairmen Byrnes and Vinson, formed in October 1942 as the Office of Economic Stabilization.War Manpower Commission under Chairman McNuff, formed in April 1942.United States Maritime Commission under Chairman Land.War Shipping Administration under Administrator Land, formed in February 1942.Office of Defense Transportation under Chairman Eastman, formed in December 1941.Petroleum Administration for War under Administrator Ickes, formed in December 1942.War Food Administration formed in December 1942.National War Labor Board under Chairman Davis, formed in January 1942.Office of Scientific Research and Development under Chairman Bush, formed in July 1941.Office of War Information under Chairman Davis, formed in June 1942.Office of Civilian Defense under Chairmen LaGuardia and Landis, formed in May 1941.The Joint Chiefs were military officers, as opposed to the above, who were for the most part civilians.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff William D. LeahyArmy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff George C. MarshallNavy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Operations Ernest KingArmy Air Force Commander Henry ArnoldMarine Corps Commandant Alexander VandegriftArmy Air Force Chief of Staff GilesArmy Ground Forces Commander LearArmy Service Forces Commander SomervellIn addition, the following offices reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Operations Division, formerly the War Plans Division.Military Intelligence DivisionOffice of Naval Intelligence