The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Eastman, Joseph Bartlett
1882–1944, U.S. government administrator, b. Katonah, N.Y. President Wilson appointed him in 1919 to the Interstate Commerce Commission. As federal coordinator of railroads (1933–36), director of the Office of Defense Transportation (1941–44), and a member of the War Production Board, Eastman showed great ability at mobilizing transportation for the good of the nation. At first an advocate of government ownership of railroads, he later modified his views.
