Changes

OPA was established within the [[Office for Emergency Management]] by the President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] by Executive Order 8875 on August 28, 1941. Its predecessor agency was known as the '''Office of Price Administration and Civilian Supply''' (OPACS).  It became an independent agency and was renamed under the Emergency Price Control Act, January 30, 1942. The functions of the OTC were originally to stabilize prices(price controls) and rents after the outbreak of [[World War II]].  The OPA had the power to place ceilings on all prices except agricultural commodities, and to ration scarce supplies of other items, including tires, automobiles, shoes, nylon, sugar, gasoline, fuel oil, coffee, meats and processed foods.  At the peak, almost 90% of retail food prices were frozen.  It could also authorize subsidies for production of some of those commodities.   

OPA was established within the [[Office for Emergency Management]] by the President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] by Executive Order 8875 on August 28, 1941. Its predecessor agency was known as the '''Office of Price Administration and Civilian Supply''' (OPACS).  It became an independent agency and was renamed under the Emergency Price Control Act, January 30, 1942. The functions of the OTC were originally to stabilize prices(price controls) and rents after the outbreak of [[World War II]].  The OPA had the power to place ceilings on all prices except agricultural commodities, and to ration scarce supplies of other items, including tires, automobiles, shoes, nylon, sugar, gasoline, fuel oil, coffee, meats and processed foods.  At the peak, almost 90% of retail food prices were frozen.  It could also authorize subsidies for production of some of those commodities.   

The OPA was abolished effective May 29, 1947 by the General Liquidation Order issued March 14, 1947 by the OTC Administrator. Some of its functions were taken up by successor agencies in the Departments of Agriculture, Justice and Commerce, and the [[Reconstruction Finance Corporation]]. Famous employees include economist [[John Kenneth Galbraith]] (a top official) and lawyer [[Richard Nixon]] (a very junior official).

President [[Harry Truman]] responding to pressures from the left and especially labor unions, kept the OPA operating for two years after the war ended. The Republicans made its shortcomings a major campaign issue in the Congressional elections of 1946, which produced one of the biggest GOP landslides in history.  The OPA was finally abolished effective May 29, 1947. Famous employees include economist [[John Kenneth Galbraith]] (a top official) and lawyer [[Richard Nixon]] (a very junior official).

Administrators of the office:

Administrators of the office: