A Lottery That Nobody Wanted to Win

Forty years ago, on the evening of December 1, 1969, CBS News pre-empted the regularly scheduled broadcast of Mayberry RFD to pick up a live feed from Washington correspondent Roger Mudd at the Selective Service headquarters. "Good evening…Tonight for the first time in 27 years the United States has again started a draft lottery," said Mudd in whispered tones as the ceremony proceeded in the background.