pratt was appointed by president of the united states franklin d. roosevelt to serve on the war resources board. he later continued his public service as a member of the lend-lease administration, in which capacity he came into contact with important leaders of his day, including united states secretary of state george c. marshall who visited chatham to go duck hunting. in these capacities in washington, d.c., pratt also met general (and later president) dwight d. eisenhower who was a guest at chatham.