Text 29472, 111 rader
Skriven 2009-03-16 16:13:20 av Lee Lofaso (3:800/432.0)
  Kommentar till text 29365 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
Ärende: One-upsmanship        1/
================================
Hello Bob,

>RB>Hey, that's peanuts - even an American President (Bill Clinton)
>RB>dodged the draft and still was elected.

>LL>Bill Clinton did not dodge the draft. He got a deferment, allowing him
>LL>to continue his studies.

RB>Conveniently outside the USA. In those days, you had to get
RB>special permission to leave the States if you were on the
RB>draft list (personal experience).

[source - http://snopes.com/politics/clintons/felon.asp

The following is taken in large part from the above cite.

Bill Clinton, as an 18-year-old, as a student at Georgetown
University's School of Foreign Service, registered with the
Selective Service System on 8 September 1964.  On 17 November
1964 he received a 2-S (student deferment).

During his senior year at Georgetown, Clinton was one of 32
people receiving a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford University
in England.  But on 16 February 1968 the federal government had
eliminated most draft deferments, and as such Clinton would no
longer be eligible for additional student deferments after he
completed his final term at Georgetown in the spring of 1968.
Therefore, his draft board reclassified him 1-A (available
immediately for military service) on 20 March 1968.

What to do?  What to do?  Clinton had said publicly that he
was morally opposed to the Vietnam War, and definitely did not
want to go!  So what did Clinton do?  He sought help from his
uncle, Raymond Clinton.  His uncle would know what to do to
get him out of the jam.  To make a long story short, Bill
Clinton got a billet in the naval reserve (2-year active duty
billet).  However, Bill Clinton never bothered to show up for
the interview, having gotten a better deal/favor.

Clinton's uncle's friend Henry Britt (a shady Arkansas lawyer)
managed to convince William S. Armstrong, chairman of the Garland
County draft board, to get Bill temporary protection from the
draft by putting his draft notice in a drawer and forgetting
about it, thus allowing Bill to start his first year at Oxford,
without committing himself to military service.

Special consideration for Rhodes Scholars was not unusual at
the time, as many others had done the same (although in different
ways).

Bill Clinton began his first year at Oxford in October 1968.

In December 1968 Bill Clinton received notice from the Selective
Service informing him to undergo an armed forces physical examination at
a U.S. air base near London.  Bill Clinton took the exam on 13 January
1969.  And promptly failed the exam (not enough to keep in out, but
still a failed exam).

An Order to Report for Induction was sent three months later, but did
not arrive in time due to it having been sent via surface mail, with
the deadline already having passed.  By then, Bill Clinton had already
started his second term (Oxford had three semesters rather than two).
As such, Clinton's new reporting date was reset to 28 July 1969.

Clinton returned to Arkansas, and was fast running out of options,
as his date with destiny was soon approaching.  But you know Bill.
Smart as a whip.  Instead of running away to Canada, Bill Clinton
decided to join them.  That's right.  If you can't beat them, join
them.  On 17 July 1969 Bill Clinton joined the ROTC in Arkansas.
However, he could not begin the program until he completed basic
training the following summer.  Bill Clinton's draft notice was
nullified and he was reclassified 1-D (reservist deferment) on
7 August 1969.  Bill was on his way, sure to be the best cadet in
Arkansas!

Bill Clinton returned for his second year at Oxford, conveniently
forgetting about his obligation to the ROTC.

And then, most suddenly and unexpectedly, Bill Clinton had a change
of heart.  In October 1969 Bill Clinton asked his draft board to drop
his ROTC deferment and reclassify him 1-A.  What a guy!  Bill Clinton
wanted to put his name in the hat to be drafted for service in the
Vietnam War!  Gave up his deferment so he could serve in Vietnam!
What a patriot!

The first draft lottery was held on 1 December 1969, with Bill
Clinton's birthdate of 19 August being selected 311th, a number
so high it was guaranteed he would not be drafted.

Poor Bill.  He wanted so desperately to serve his country in Vietnam.
He never broke any laws, civil or military, and had to watch his
countrymen die in a war that he had previously publicly stated he
morally opposed.

But hey.  Don't feel so blue about Bill.  He went on to become
the most popular president in American history, even more popular
than Ronald Reagan.

>LL>And then he put his name in the hat (for the draft), but got lucky and
>LL>was not drafted.

RB>When did that occur? In 1980 or so?

Late 1960's.

>>> Continued to next message

 * SLMR 2.1a * My reality check just bounced.

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