did bush and cheney dodge the draft in vietnam?

Answer 1

Cheney got 5 (count 'em, FIVE) deferments because he was in business school. (He's not as old as he looks.) He told one interviewer later on that he had "other priorities" besides serving his country. (So did a lot of other people, but they didn't have the luxury of a choice.)

Bush jumped to the top of a waiting list of 500 to get in the Texas Air Nat'l Guard despite scoring in the 25th percentile on the test (as low as you could score) and having NO relevant experience. The unit he was in was called the "Champagne Unit" and "Air Canada" because it was where prominent Texas politicans (including Democrat Lloyd Bentsen) stashed their sons to keep them from having to go to Vietnam. He then went AWOL for a year and got out early without fulfilling his obligation.

Did they dodge the draft? You decide.

By the way, I don't believe that military service should be a requirement for the Presidency, but if there's a draft, you support the war and/or your parent is voting to send other people's children off to die, you'd better either go or be doing something to stop it. Bill Clinton's behavior wasn't exactly exemplary, but at least he did oppose the war - he didn't sit cheering it on from the sideliens.

Answer 2

The best answer here is Lundstroms2004 above.

I would simply like to add that I do think it is a huge problem regarding military service. I don't think it's necessary to serve the nation in the military to become an office-holder. But, what has happened is that the rich (generally) no longer serve their country. The poor do. The rich (generally) are elected to office. As a result of the lack of military service, the wealthy no longer have a direct understanding of military service and military culture. Thus it leaves the appearance of the wealthy sending the poor off to die in a war.

The best thing to do is enstate compulsory service - either two years in the military, two years in the Peace Corps, or two years in AmeriCorps. Take your pick, but sometime before your 25th birthday, you're doing one of the three.

This would at least give all young people a perspective on the world that's different from the one with which they were born.

I'm angry about Bush's "service", but I'm more angry that he had known so little of the world outside the US and is supposed to be the Chief Diplomat. Had he served his country in some true sense, maybe his perspective on the world would be healthier.

Answer 3

No more than Clinton did. Vietnam was a bad time, and people found a way to work the system to their advantage to survive. Bush enlisted as a pilot in the National Guard. When he enlisted, most the air combat of Nam was done, and relied heavily on the Air Force and Naval Air Corps. It was a safe bet to assume that a wing of National Guard Pilots, who existed to patrol the Caribbean against Cuban and other southern threats, would be called to Nam.

Clinton did everything he could to stay in college to avoid the draft. Then, when college deferments no longer worked, he went international as a student to make it harder it call him. What pissed people off with Clinton is that he participated in an anti-war protest in Moscow during the Vietnam War. My conservative Friends that called Clinton a draft dodger I made a point to correct them.

Cheney is older, and by the time his deferments ran out, he exceeded the age for draft. He never chose to enlist. Remember, he got married young.

Gore served, but as a journalist. He served in a nice safe office, but he did go there. Nixon sent him there hoping Gore would die and not inherit his father's political legacy. Gore was supposed to get Guard deferment as well, but Nixon played hardball and specifically called Gore up.

Answer 4

I think Cheney was too old for Vietnam. Bush served in the Texas National Guard during that time.

Answer 5

President Bush didn't dodge anything. He served in the Texas National Guard. I don't see where Dick Chaney dodged anything. I'm sure he used his college deferments like everyone else that had the privilege of furthering their education had the chance to do.

Answer 6

No. The only President who is a draft-dodger is Slick Willie. Bush served in the National Guard.

Answer 7

lets commence with this psuedo psychological rant. lots of the rant is aimed in the direction of insulting between the folk who replied to this rant. The responder did not say, that buckwheat all started the Korean conflict, He merely pronounced that Obama became sending youthful individuals to proceed the status of forces settlement contained in the Korean conflict. I do even trust this same poster became declaring now the Afghan conflict is all Obamas, and it really is. i somewhat like it even as, a civilian rants about something they have in person-friendly words been spoon fed concepts on. Having spent 2 excursions in Iraq, and a million excursion in Afghanistan, i visit state with all sincerity, you do not have a clue of what you talk. once you've kicked doorways, and had your *** shot up, please sense free to inform us about your memories. until eventually then attempt staying on element, that you're merely a left wing liberal parrot. thanks for the non historic previous lesson, you've merely shown your lack of information previous doubt. It took Bush 7. years to get lower than 40 %. How lengthy has Buckwheat held the job. 19 months. My O My. by utilizing the way Bush became an fool. yet a much better fool than yours any day of the week.

Answer 8

Cheney did through deferments. Bush bought his way into the Guard and spent most of his tour as a playboy and party animal when he should have been on duty.

Answer 9

Does every President have to fight in a war? Where did Billary fight? The President is an elected CIVILIAN. If he served, good for him. If he didn't, so what? Get over it. The Dems lost congress, they lost in the Presidential elections. It is over. Go about your life.