President Jimmy Carter granting an unconditional pardon to draft
dodgers.

On January 21, 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.

  
President Jimmy Carter, in his first day in office, fulfilled a campaign
promise by announcing the pardoning of draft dodgers.
 

On January 21, 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter granted an unconditional
pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the draft during the
Vietnam War by fleeing the country or by failing to register. The executive
order left many people furious, while others saw it as a bold show of
compassion.

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.

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

On this day in 1943,race-related rioting erupted in Detroit, MI. Federal troops were sent in two days later to end the violence that left more
than 30 dead.

TIM MAGUIRE

 On this day in 1977, President Jimmy Carter pardoned almost all Vietnam War draft evaders. During his presidential campaign, he
had announced his intention to pardon those who had failed to
register for the draft or left the country to avoid service.    

 


Vietnam Draft Dodgers in 1977.
      
      

On this day in 1976, the French Concorde SST aircraft began regular commercial service for Air France and British Airways.

The official handover ceremony to British Airways of its first
Concorde occurred on 15 January 1976 at Heathrow Airport.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

On this day in 1974, President Gerald Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for draft-evaders and deserters during the Vietnam War.

In west Beirut on this day in 1982, the massacre of hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children began in refugee camps
of the Lebanese Christian militiamen.