There were only three TV stations in Madison at the time of the lottery. One (CBS) was a VHF station and the other two (ABC and NBC) were UHF stations. The only TV to which I had access was VHF only. At the time the stations took their commitment to broadcast what was of the most interest to the public very seriously. In a town with 35,000 sex-crazed, draft-impacted kids, CBS decided that the viewing audience had a greater interest in seeing a Billy Graham evangelical service than in seeing the draft lottery. Later that night the news finally showed the numbers.

The bars were filled with those who had high numbers and those with low ones. You did not know whether the guy sitting next to you was happy or sad, so you made no attempt to celebrate.

I didn’t have a concern in any respect. I had a degree that was vital for national defense, had six toes on one foot and am allergic to sulfa. I was covered in many ways.