Word: draft
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...nominated former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President. He declared a policy of leniency toward Viet Nam War-era draft evaders and deserters. He let it be known that he "probably" will run for President in 1976. He worked from early morning to late at night, signing bills, giving speeches, issuing proclamations, and meeting with an enormous number of people in the White House and on Capitol Hill...
...audience cheered and clapped loudly as Ford departed from his bland prepared text and declared that "unconditional, blanket amnesty for anyone who illegally evaded or fled military service is wrong." But the veterans sat in shocked silence as Ford went on to say that he wanted the deserters and draft dodgers who fled abroad during the Viet Nam War "to come home if they want to work their way back." Pledging to throw "the weight of my presidency into the scales of justice on the side of leniency," he added: "I reject amnesty, and I reject revenge...
...General William Saxbe and Defense Secretary James Schlesinger report to him before Sept. 1 on the problem. But it seemed probable that some kind of public service will be the price for amnesty. No one knows for certain how many men would be affected. Ford set the total of draft evaders and deserters at 50,000, a figure perhaps largely based on Government estimates of 4,400 draft evaders, 8,900 men actually convicted of breaking the Selective Service law and 28,600 deserters still AWOL...
...majority of the draft resisters and deserters interviewed by TIME correspondents last week said that they would accept nothing less than unconditional amnesty, explaining that anything less would imply wrongdoing on their part. On the opposite side of the touchy issue, the V.F.W. took an equally adamant stand against Ford's change in Administration policy. The day after his speech, the organization adopted a resolution rejecting any kind of amnesty for those who refused to fight in Viet...
...Hartmann who persuaded Ford to strive for independence as Vice President and avoid becoming overcommitted to Nixon's Watergate defense. Hartmann crafted Ford's well-received Inaugural Address, his first speech as President to Congress and his speech last week appealing for leniency for deserters and draft dodgers. Hartmann also was the only White House aide who participated in Ford's selection of a nominee for Vice President. He tabulated the names recommended by Republican Congressmen, Governors and others, and later discreetly checked out the three finalists, though Ford never confided in him that he had settled...