Dollar-a-year men

:"Dollar-a-year man redirects here. For the 1921 film starring Fatty Arbuckle, see The Dollar-a-Year Man."The "Dollar-a-year men" were business executives who helped the government to drive the US national economy during periods of war, specially in the 1st World War. US law forbids the government from accepting free services from anyone; accordingly, capable men who are effectively volunteering their services have nevertheless to be paid some salary however nominal. Typically these individuals are paid one dollar a year for their work.

World War II

Canada

In Canada during World War II, C.D. Howe, Canada's "Minister of Everything", created a rearmament program using "dollar-a-year men". cite web|url=http://collections.ic.gc.ca/heirloom_series/volume5/218-221.htm|title=Clarence Decatur Howe|work=Canada's Digital Collections|author=Art Bailey] An example was John Wilson McConnell, the owner and publisher of the "Montreal Star", who was appointed Director of Licences for the Wartime Trade Board, a position for which he served for free. cite web|url=http://collections.ic.gc.ca/heirloom_series/volume6/318-319.htm|title=John Wilson McConnell|work=Canada's Digital Collections|author=Mel James]

References