On December 1, 1969, the United States held its first televised draft lottery for the Vietnam War. Young men aged 19 to 26 watched anxiously as birthdates were drawn to determine the order of induction into military service. The process involved selecting 366 capsules, each representing a day of the year, to assign draft numbers. Those with lower numbers faced a higher likelihood of being called to serve. | History In Pictures

On December 1, 1969, the United States' Selective Service System conducted its first draft lottery in over a quarter of a century. As opaque capsules containing each birthdate were extracted one by one from a large glass jar, many young men saw their lives flash before their eyes. Stream HARD HAT RIOT on YouTube and in the PBS app. #HardHatRiotPBS | American Experience | PBS