1977 : President Carter pardons draft dodgers
On this day in 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter grants an
unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the
draft during the Vietnam War.
In total, some 100,000 young Americans went abroad in the late 1960s
and early 70s to avoid serving in the war. Ninety percent went to
Canada, where after some initial controversy they were eventually
welcomed as immigrants. Still others hid inside the United States. In
addition to those who avoided the draft, a relatively small
number--about 1,000--of deserters from the U.S. armed forces also
headed to Canada. While the Canadian government technically reserved
the right to prosecute deserters, in practice they left them alone,
even instructing border guards not to ask too many questions.
For its part, the U.S. government continued to prosecute draft evaders
after the Vietnam War ended. A total of 209,517 men were formally
accused of violating draft laws, while government officials estimate
another 360,000 were never formally accused. If they returned home,
those living in Canada or elsewhere faced prison sentences or forced
military service. During his 1976 presidential campaign, Jimmy Carter
promised to pardon draft dodgers as a way of putting the war and the
bitter divisions it caused firmly in the past. After winning the
election, Carter wasted no time in making good on his word. Though
many transplanted Americans returned home, an estimated 50,000 settled
permanently in Canada, greatly expanding the country's arts and
academic scenes and pushing Canadian politics decidedly to the left.
Back in the U.S., Carter's decision generated a good deal of
controversy. Heavily criticized by veterans' groups and others for
allowing unpatriotic lawbreakers to get off scot-free, the pardon and
companion relief plan came under fire from amnesty groups for not
addressing deserters, soldiers who were dishonorably discharged or
civilian anti-war demonstrators who had been prosecuted for their
resistance.
Years later, Vietnam-era draft evasion still carries a powerful
stigma. Though no prominent political figures have been found to have
broken any draft laws, Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and
Vice-Presidents Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney--none of whom saw combat in
Vietnam--have all been accused of being draft dodgers at one time or
another. Although there is not currently a draft in the U.S.,
desertion and conscientious objection have remained pressing issues
among the armed forces during the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1977 : President Carter pardons draft dodgers
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52348
1793 : King Louis XVI executed
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4695
1924 : Vladimir Lenin dies
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4696
1976 : Concorde takes off
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6783
#########################################
On this day in 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter grants an
unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the
draft during the Vietnam War.
In total, some 100,000 young Americans went abroad in the late 1960s
and early 70s to avoid serving in the war. Ninety percent went to
Canada, where after some initial controversy they were eventually
welcomed as immigrants. Still others hid inside the United States. In
addition to those who avoided the draft, a relatively small
number--about 1,000--of deserters from the U.S. armed forces also
headed to Canada. While the Canadian government technically reserved
the right to prosecute deserters, in practice they left them alone,
even instructing border guards not to ask too many questions.
For its part, the U.S. government continued to prosecute draft evaders
after the Vietnam War ended. A total of 209,517 men were formally
accused of violating draft laws, while government officials estimate
another 360,000 were never formally accused. If they returned home,
those living in Canada or elsewhere faced prison sentences or forced
military service. During his 1976 presidential campaign, Jimmy Carter
promised to pardon draft dodgers as a way of putting the war and the
bitter divisions it caused firmly in the past. After winning the
election, Carter wasted no time in making good on his word. Though
many transplanted Americans returned home, an estimated 50,000 settled
permanently in Canada, greatly expanding the country's arts and
academic scenes and pushing Canadian politics decidedly to the left.
Back in the U.S., Carter's decision generated a good deal of
controversy. Heavily criticized by veterans' groups and others for
allowing unpatriotic lawbreakers to get off scot-free, the pardon and
companion relief plan came under fire from amnesty groups for not
addressing deserters, soldiers who were dishonorably discharged or
civilian anti-war demonstrators who had been prosecuted for their
resistance.
Years later, Vietnam-era draft evasion still carries a powerful
stigma. Though no prominent political figures have been found to have
broken any draft laws, Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and
Vice-Presidents Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney--none of whom saw combat in
Vietnam--have all been accused of being draft dodgers at one time or
another. Although there is not currently a draft in the U.S.,
desertion and conscientious objection have remained pressing issues
among the armed forces during the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1977 : President Carter pardons draft dodgers
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52348
1793 : King Louis XVI executed
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4695
1924 : Vladimir Lenin dies
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4696
1976 : Concorde takes off
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6783
#########################################
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