Joshua E. Kastenberg, a law professor at the University of New Mexico and former military judge who has closely studied draft policies, said there was still a lot of flexibility in the system, given the independence of local draft boards, so in effect “a de facto deferment” remained in place, especially if someone was white and upper middle class. Hardship deferments were still given out, especially for graduate students.

“The Army’s demographics based off conscription were still vastly weighted to non-college students and there remained a de facto deferment in place for graduate students,” he said. ‘Graduate school still acted as a shield. It was very clear that after 1968 graduate students still had significantly less chance of being called up.”

“Kastenberg said that given the uncertainty at the time, the statement reported by Clinton is plausible. “I could easily see male students were under the impression that women would deny opportunities” to avoid military service, he said. “It is very clear that graduate students after 1968 had significantly less chance of being called up” than high school graduates who did not go to college and were in the work force.”