---
title: The toughest job is still ahead!
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/the-toughest-job-is-still-ahead-1943/
description: 'Navy industrial-incentive poster: three painted portraits of admirals, each beside a speech bubble. Tagged by technique, with source and rights.'
section: Collection
---

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3. The toughest job is still ahead!

**Content note:** Admiral Nimitz quotation uses the wartime ethnic term 'Jap' for Japanese ships, as printed. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![The toughest job is still ahead!, 1943 US poster: Navy industrial-incentive poster](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/the-toughest-job-is-still-ahead-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/the-toughest-job-is-still-ahead-1943.jpg)

# The toughest job is still ahead!

Navy industrial-incentive poster: three painted portraits of admirals, each beside a speech bubble. Admirals King, Ingersoll and Nimitz warn that the test is still ahead and that victory should not be discussed while an enemy ship floats. The footer asks war workers to meet their schedules. The technique is testimonial, with a mild fear-appeal that the war is far from won.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/) [Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
"The most crucial test of our combined strength is still before us"
ADMIRAL ERNEST J. KING U.S.N.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF U.S. FLEET

"The Battle of the Atlantic is still a 'round the clock fight"
ADMIRAL ROYAL E. INGERSOLL U.S.N.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ATLANTIC FLEET

"Let's not talk Victory while there's a single Jap ship afloat and fighting"
ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ U.S.N.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PACIFIC FLEET

MEET YOUR SCHEDULES...FOR VICTORY
THE TOUGHEST JOB IS STILL AHEAD!

[imprint: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1943 O-555063]
[imprint: OFFICIAL NAVY POSTER, INDUSTRIAL INCENTIVE DIVISION, 3-80M]
```

[← The Secret: Silence Means Security](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/the-secret-silence-means-security-hanley-1943/) [This Is the Enemy →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/this-is-the-enemy-1943/)

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- [Behistun (Bisotun) rock relief and trilingual inscription of Darius I: the king, two attendants and the bound rebel leaders beneath the winged figure of Ahuramazda](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/behistun-relief-darius-and-rebels-521bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Card stacking, Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Shows bound captives before the king, and the inscription records the mutilation and public execution of rebel leaders, as the king's own account.
- [Tomb of Darius I at Naqsh-e Rustam: the king in relief beside his inscription DNa, c. 490 BCE](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dna-inscription-darius-i-naqsh-e-rustam-490bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Testimonial, Card stacking)
- [Seated limestone statue of Hatshepsut as king, with feminine royal titles on the throne, reassembled from fragments broken up at Deir el-Bahri](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hatshepsut-seated-statue-limestone-met-1458bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer, Testimonial)
- [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer)
- [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities)
- [Seljuq gold dinar of Sanjar, dated 493 AH, with the Abbasid caliph named on one face](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/seljuq-gold-dinar-sanjar-caliph-name-1099/) (Great Seljuk Empire · 1099 · Testimonial)
- [Estoire d'Eracles page with Bernard of Clairvaux preaching the Second Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 180v)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-bernard-preaching-second-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial)
- [Opening page of the Estoire d'Eracles (William of Tyre in French), with the Crucifixion and Pope Urban II preaching the First Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 1r)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-urban-ii-preaching-first-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial, Transfer)