On December 1, 1969, the U.S. held its first Vietnam Draft Lottery, televised live. This event determined the order of call for military service, based on birth dates, impacting young men across the country. The lottery used a random drawing of dates to establish the order of conscription, changing lives and influencing opinions on the Vietnam War. | History In Pictures

On December 1, 1969, the U.S. held its first televised draft lottery for the Vietnam War. Men aged 19-26 watched nervously as birthdates were randomly drawn from 366 capsules, each representing a day of the year. The order determined their draft number, with lower numbers meaning a greater chance of being drafted into the military. | Historyinmemes