Ending The Draft: The Creation of an All-Volunteer Force
January 19, 2012
The Foundation and National Archives hosted Nixon campaign and White House officials who worked with President Nixon to end the draft and create the modern, professional, and all-volunteer force fighting for America today. Participants included Nixon campaign Director of Research and Special Assistant to the President Martin C. Anderson; Nixon campaign aide Annelise Graebner Anderson; and Special Assistant to the President Jonathan C. Rose. Former Selective Service head and current Rand Corporation Senior Fellow Bernard D. Rostker moderated the program.
Panelists
Annelise Anderson: Researcher for the Nixon Presidential Campaign (1968)
Martin Anderson: Director of Research for the Nixon Presidential Campaign (1968), Special Assistant to the President (1969-1971)
Jonathan Rose: Special Assistant to the President (1969-1973)
Bernard Rostker (Moderator): Director of the Selective Service System (1979-1981)
Timeline (With Links To Primary Documents)
1960
November 6 – Vice President Richard Nixon on The Peace Corps and Selective Service (The American Presidency Project)
1967
February – In Pursuit of Equity: Who Serves When Not All Serve?, Report of The National Advisory Commission on Selective Service (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
May 14 – The New York Times, “The Case for Abolishing the Draft – and Substituting For It An All-Volunteer Army” by Milton Friedman (The New York Times)
July 4 – Memo to Richard Nixon, “An Outline of the Factors Involved in Establishing an All-Volunteer Armed Force” by Martin Anderson (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 2)
September – Report by The Selective Service System – “A System Of Random Selection” (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, White House Central Files, Staff Member Office Files, Martin Anderson Box 11)
October 10 – An Analysis of the Factors Involved in Moving to an All-Volunteer Force by Martin Anderson (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 2)
November 18 – The New York Times, “Nixon Backs Eventual End of Draft” by Robert J. Semple (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 3)
1968
October 16 – Candidate Richard Nixon’s Remarks on NBC Radio, “Today’s Youth: The Great Generation (The American Presidency Project)
October 17 – Candidate Richard Nixon’s Remarks on CBS Radio, “The All-Volunteer Armed Force” (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 3)
1969
January 3 – Transition Memorandum, Martin Anderson to President-Elect Nixon Re: All-Volunteer Armed Force (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 1)
February 3 – Memorandum, Secretary Melvin Laird to President Nixon on Selective Service Reforms (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 1)
March 27 – President Nixon Announces the Formation of the Commission on an All-Volunteer Force, The Gates Commission (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 2)
May 13 – President Nixon’s Special Message to Congress on Reforming the Military Draft (The American Presidency Project)
June 6 – President Nixon’s Statement on Establishing Nationwide Youth Advisory Committees to the Selective Service System (The American Presidency Project)
September 19 – President Nixon’s Remarks Concerning Change in Draft Calls and Pending Draft Legislation (The American Presidency Project)
November 26 – President Nixon’s Remarks on Signing the Draft Reform Bill (The American Presidency Project)
1970
February 20 – The Report Of The President’s Commission On An All-Volunteer Force (The RAND Corporation)
February 21 – Memorandum, President Nixon Meeting with Commission on an All-Volunteer Force, The Gates Commission (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 2)
Memorandum, Summary of President Nixon Meeting with Commission on an All-Volunteer Force (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 1)
March 11 – Memorandum, Melvin Laird to the President, The Department of Defense comments on the President’s Commission on the All-Volunteer Armed Force (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, White House Central Files, Staff Member Office Files, Martin Anderson Box 37)
April 14 – National Security Decision Memorandum 53 – Draft Reform and The Elimination of Draft Calls (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, White House Central Files, Staff Member Office Files, Martin Anderson Box 41)
April 23 – President Nixon’s Special Message to Congress on Draft Reform (The American Presidency Project)
Executive Order 11527: Amending the Selective Service Regulations (The American Presidency Project)
1971
January 28 – President Nixon’s Special Message to Congress About Draft Reform (The American Presidency Project)
September 28 – President Nixon’s Statement on Signing Bill Authorizing Extension of the Draft and Increasing Military Pay (The American Presidency Project)
1972
August 28 – President Nixon’s Statement About Progress Toward Establishment of an All-Volunteer Armed Force (The American Presidency Project)
Undated
Action Memorandum For The President, All-Volunteer Armed Force (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 2)
Letter, President Nixon to Tom Gates Establishing Authority for the Committee on an All-Volunteer Force (Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Martin Anderson Donated Collection, Box 1)