According to dustbury, John Edwards made a comment on the Today show to the effect that he never served in the military since "the draft was pretty much done away with" when he became eligible. Dustbury suggests that he has his facts wrong as other people of the same age (50) did serve. I think Edwards has it about right, however.
I turn 50 in a few days. While I don't recall all the details, the draft WAS pretty much over when my year's numbers were pulled. By 1972, the war was winding down, the draft was being phased out, and it was decided that Selective Service would draw numbers for several more years -- just in case -- but they did not expect to call up anyone (and indeed called up few, if any) starting with either the '72 or '73 draft.
On top of this, many 18-year-olds were in college and had 1-S student deferrments. Since this meant that they could not easily be called up until a) they left school, or b) all the 1-A candidates had been processed, anyone still in college in the early 70's was never going to be called. People 50 today typically were in college from 1972-1976, and one would assume that Edwards attended college.
So, Edwards' comments (on this matter) are quite reasonable to me, although he probably should have mentioned the 1-S status if he had it.
UPDATE: According to the Selective Service site: "This lottery was conducted for men who would have been called in 1973 [men borrn in 1953]; however, no new draft orders were issued after 1972."
(via blogoSFERICS)
It would have made things infinitely clearer had he spelled these things out, yes.
Anyway, I don't think Edwards was trying to put one over on Katie, but I have to figure that if what he says resonates strangely with me, it most likely will resonate strangely with others as well.
Thanks for weighing in.
I didn't think it odd. My parents were the same age as Edwards, and in college from 1970-1974 -- and no draft worries (though even if there were, my dad was not even allowed in ROTC on campus, as he had too many medical problems (eyesight and bad knee) for them... I think they could be picky then.)
Posted by: meep at February 14, 2004 03:48 AMI was a 1977 high school graduate and I have zero recollection of the draft. No one was worried about it. No one I knew knew anyone who was. It was ancient history by the time I hit high school in 1974.
One thing I do recall is in 1974 I gave an extemporaneous speech at a forensics tournament about the "last college protest." The Time magazine article pointed out how it was a kind of flash from the past. So one thing about all those kids who wanted to save the world, once the draft was ended, it was like letting the air out of the tire of the that great age of consciousness raising that Howard Dean and others like to bray about whenever they get the chance.
Posted by: Peter Sean Bradley at February 15, 2004 11:04 PM