On this day in 1977, Jimmy Carter issued an official pardon to Vietnam draft dodgers. President Carter is quoted as saying that he knew he was going to do it before he walked into the Oval Office as President. It was controversial. Over 210,000 men were accused of draft violations. Many men went to Canada. Despite the pardon, thousands of draft dodgers remained in Canada. They went on to become architects, lawyers, musicians, professors, and even officials in the Canadian government.
In thinking about this, I wonder how many other contemporary artists, dodged the Vietnam War. What if they had become a soldier, would they have returned to become artists?
Take care, C2.
