America’s World War I draft lottery begins 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (July 20 1917)


Video: 'Second draft of World War I draft numbers is drawn by United States Secretary of ...HD Stock Footage'

(Friday, July 20, 1917, 9:49 a.m. EDT) — America’s World War I draft lottery began today as Secretary of War Newton Baker, wearing a blindfold, reached into a glass bowl and pulled out a capsule containing the number 258 during a ceremony inside the Senate office building in Washington.

The drawing of numbers by various officials continued until shortly after 2:00 a.m. the next day.