The Lottery of '67
To the Editor:
I appreciated the thoroughness of your article on the draft in the August edition of Chronogram ["Sensing a Draft"]. I realize that it is difficult to pack all the information into a journal article, and that something must always be cut.  However, you may have given your younger readers the impression that until 1967 men did not have to register for the draft for Vietnam.  On the contrary: the Act of 1967 initiated the lottery.  Until that time, men were drafted and sent to Vietnam more or less at the whim or needs of their draft boards.  Indeed, after the marriage exemption was abolished in 1965 (at which time student deferments became much harder to get also), the main thing dominating the life of  a 17-year-old man was "what are you going to do about the draft?"  The lottery of 1967 was almost a relief, because a man at least had an inkling of where he stood.

The Vietnam War was over and I was out of high school for nearly 20 years before my first thought on meeting a man my age wasn't "what did you do about the draft?"  If anything prevents another universal draft, the collective trauma suffered by the generation that graduated from high school in the mid-to-late '60s may be a major factor.
- Jane Arnold, Arlington, MA

Fan Mail
The recent article, "Homeless on the Hudson" [9/04] is yet another fine example of Susan Piperato's excellent writing and research skills.

The article was comprehensive, detailed, sensitive, and personal.  Additionally, there was just enough information and data within so that readers would be able to understand how Federal policies are serving to make matters even worse.
- Glenn Gidaly, Gardiner