After high school in 1969, I was footloose and lucky, not getting drafted. In 1970 I got serious, started college and got deferments. Then came the lottery, a lousy number, and the removal of the college deferment. I went for the physical, passing of course. It was during Nixon’s 1972 reelection campaign and I was expecting a draft notice. Then came the announcement that no one would be drafted that month. OK, I got lucky for the moment but pondered enlisting. Then the same thing the next month–no draft call. More luck. The next month came the kicker: Nixon canceled all future draft calls.
