Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
On August 28, 1941, President Roosevelt's Executive Order 8875 created the Office of Price Administration (OPA). The OPA's main responsibility was to place a ceiling on prices of most goods, and to limit consumption
by rationing. After the outbreak of WWII it was deemed necessary to control inflation and stabilize prices. The OPA also had the power to ration scarce goods such as tires, automobiles, shoes, sugar, gasoline, and rent, among other things.
The OPA set up a system of rationing where households received ration books with coupons to be used for buying scarce goods.The first goods rationed were tires (no driver was to own more than five tires). The last item controlled was meat ending on November 23, 1945.
Sandburg writes: "When the Office of Price Administration first began operations under its chief, Leon Henderson, some of the boys thought a song was needed. Whether the following ditty was the product of an individual or a group is not known to the present writer. The lines are satirical and they carry historic implication."
On August 28, 1941, President Roosevelt's Executive Order 8875 created the Office of Price Administration (OPA). The OPA's main responsibility was to place a ceiling on prices of most goods, and to limit consumption
by rationing. After the outbreak of WWII it was deemed necessary to control inflation and stabilize prices. The OPA also had the power to ration scarce goods such as tires, automobiles, shoes, sugar, gasoline, and rent, among other things.
The OPA set up a system of rationing where households received ration books with coupons to be used for buying scarce goods.The first goods rationed were tires (no driver was to own more than five tires). The last item controlled was meat ending on November 23, 1945.
Sandburg writes: "When the Office of Price Administration first began operations under its chief, Leon Henderson, some of the boys thought a song was needed. Whether the following ditty was the product of an individual or a group is not known to the present writer. The lines are satirical and they carry historic implication."
