--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The New York Times is reporting that back…" description: "\"The New York Times is reporting that back in the '60s, presidential candidate Howard Dean used a letter from a doctor about a back condition to keep hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/jay-leno-210_bills_the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-bac_2338498.png" --- # The New York Times is reporting that back in the '60s… ![“The New York Times is reporting that back in the '60s, presidential candidate Howard Dean used a letter from a doctor about a back condition to keep himself out of the draft in Vietnam and then spent 10 months skiing. Well it sounds like he's done the impossible. He actually made Bill Clinton and…” quote by Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/jay-leno-210_bills_the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-bac_2338498.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/jay-leno-210_bills_the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-bac_2338498.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/jay-leno-210_bills_the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-bac_2338498.png) > “The New York Times is reporting that back in the '60s, presidential candidate Howard Dean used a letter from a doctor about a back condition to keep himself out of the draft in Vietnam and then spent 10 months skiing. Well it sounds like he's done the impossible. He actually made Bill Clinton and George Bush look like war heroes.” [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A political figure avoided military service using a medical excuse, then lived a carefree life, outshining others' war records. **In simple terms:** A man dodged the draft and enjoyed leisure while others fought. Key Takeaway Question the ethics of draft avoidance. Themes politics ethics military service Mood critical reflective Type historical political commentary When to use this quote - political campaigns - military service - public scrutiny Key Concepts draft evasion public perception war hero narrative Questions to Reflect On - Is it fair to compare personal choices in wartime? - How does media portrayal affect public judgment? A Different Perspective Such stories can glorify avoidance and undermine genuine service. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Presidential candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential-candidate/) [Skiing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skiing/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Vietnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-hero/) [York Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-times/) ## Related quotes > [Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry came down pretty hard on fellow candidate Howard Dean this weekend. After Dean misspoke several times, Kerry said you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/democratic-presidential-candidate-john-kerry-came-down-pretty-hard-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [From the Americans, I took the meet-up platform, from Howard Dean. He used it to gather money. I use it to gather information, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beppe-grillo/from-the-americans-i-took-the-meet-up-platform-from-howard-dean-he/) [Beppe Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beppe-grillo/) > [Presidential candidate Howard Dean is now being attacked for dodging the draft. I never knew this about the guy - but now I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/presidential-candidate-howard-dean-is-now-being-attacked-for-dodging/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The Democrats current crudeness is a function of their desperation, and the imminent ratification of Howard Dean, the least charming presidential candidate in recent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/the-democrats-current-crudeness-is-a-function-of-their-desperation/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [Howard Dean dropped out of the race today. At least he can't claim his voice wasn't heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/howard-dean-dropped-out-of-the-race-today-at-least-he-can-t-claim-his/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [General Wesley Clark commented on Gore endorsing Howard Dean. He said endorsements don't win elections. Hey, in this country, votes don't even win elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/general-wesley-clark-commented-on-gore-endorsing-howard-dean-he-said/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Howard Dean announced today he will campaign in seven states. The states are Rage, Frenzy, Fury, Rath, Fever, Agitation, and Delirium. Yeeeeaaaah!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/howard-dean-announced-today-he-will-campaign-in-seven-states-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge raised security alert to a code red. Apparently Howard Dean has escaped. Did you see Dean's crazed speech the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/homeland-security-chief-tom-ridge-raised-security-alert-to-a-code-red/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Presidential Democratic front-runner Howard Dean admitted to Chris Matthews on the 'Hardball' show that he got out of the draft because of a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/presidential-democratic-front-runner-howard-dean-admitted-to-chris/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Howard Dean was endorsed by Al Gore. Now, if Dean could get Gray Davis to campaign for him, that would put him over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/howard-dean-was-endorsed-by-al-gore-now-if-dean-could-get-gray-davis/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Howard Dean is a politician, a medical doctor and a Democrat. So he has three reasons to tell women to take off their clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/howard-dean-is-a-politician-a-medical-doctor-and-a-democrat-so-he-has/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The Democrats are all over this. Democratic strategists feel John Kerry's war record means he can beat Bush. They say when it comes down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-democrats-are-all-over-this-democratic-strategists-feel-john/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [John Kerry speaks French fluently. Democrats are saying he's one in a million. A war hero who speaks French, isn't it more like one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/john-kerry-speaks-french-fluently-democrats-are-saying-he-s-one-in-a/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [In a new issue of Esquire magazine, they revealed that before he was married to Teresa Heinz, Senator John Kerry dated Morgan Fairchild, Michelle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/in-a-new-issue-of-esquire-magazine-they-revealed-that-before-he-was/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [They say John Kerry is the first Democratic presidential candidate in history to raise $50 million in a three-month period. Actually, that's nothing. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/they-say-john-kerry-is-the-first-democratic-presidential-candidate-in/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) ## More by Jay Leno > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [There is a nationwide shortage of drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder. The FDA says they're not sure how it happened. I guess somebody wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-is-a-nationwide-shortage-of-drugs-for-attention-deficit/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“Leno said the rainy weather in California "couldn't have come at a worse possible time. Today was the day NBC was supposed to burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/leno-said-the-rainy-weather-in-california-couldn-t-have-come-at-a/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Donald Trump said he will not decide about a possible run for the presidency until after the current season of Celebrity Apprentice wraps up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/donald-trump-said-he-will-not-decide-about-a-possible-run-for-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [American forces in Iraq found $650 million in American cash sealed in a hidden cottage. See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I wanted to have a career in sports when I was young, but I had to give up the idea. I'm only six feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/i-wanted-to-have-a-career-in-sports-when-i-was-young-but-i-had-to/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Texas Gov. Rick Perry referred to the Mexican city of Juarez as the most dangerous city in America. In his defense, he probably just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/texas-gov-rick-perry-referred-to-the-mexican-city-of-juarez-as-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [You can tell you ate too much for Thanksgiving when you have to let your bathrobe out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/you-can-tell-you-ate-too-much-for-thanksgiving-when-you-have-to-let/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The Mayans have predicted the world is supposed to end on December 21. If the world doesn't end on December 21, you can bet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-mayans-have-predicted-the-world-is-supposed-to-end-on-december-21/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The Globe reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il raises money by selling fake Viagra pills. What it is about this guy? None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-globe-reports-that-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-il-raises-money/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Jack Abramoff is going to testify against some of the other weasels in Congress. A lobbyist testifying against congressmen? How many Bibles are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/jack-abramoff-is-going-to-testify-against-some-of-the-other-weasels/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Tomorrow, America's most famous hockey mom, Sarah Palin, will drop the ceremonial first puck at the Philadelphia Flyers game. Right afterwards, she'll get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/tomorrow-america-s-most-famous-hockey-mom-sarah-palin-will-drop-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) [Explore all 900 Jay Leno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) ## More Bills quotes > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [ \[Sport officials\] blocked their support of us. But those individuals \[ Muhammad Ali, the Jim Browns, the Bill Russells, Kareem Abdul Jabbar \] were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/sport-officials-blocked-their-support-of-us-but-those-individuals/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [This is not really currency that circulates. It's like the old joke about expensive vintage wine. Wine prices will go up and once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/this-is-not-really-currency-that-circulates-it-s-like-the-old-joke/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [If Bill Gates left Microsoft we wouldn't allow Donald Trump to run it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/if-bill-gates-left-microsoft-we-wouldn-t-allow-donald-trump-to-run-it/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Your goal should be to pay off your credit card bills in full at the end of each month and set aside money toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/your-goal-should-be-to-pay-off-your-credit-card-bills-in-full-at-the/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [He's fat and a clown, Bill, a fat clown for all to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-dunphy/he-s-fat-and-a-clown-bill-a-fat-clown-for-all-to-see/) [Eamon Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-dunphy/) > [There's nothing nice about Steve Jobs and there's nothing evil about Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-peddle/there-s-nothing-nice-about-steve-jobs-and-there-s-nothing-evil-about/) Chuck Peddle > [At first I thought, if I were Superman, a perfect secret identity would be "Clark Kent, Dentist," because you could save money on tooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/at-first-i-thought-if-i-were-superman-a-perfect-secret-identity-would/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Whether it's people walking off 'The View' when Bill O'Reilly makes a statement about radical Islam or Juan Williams being fired for expressing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantor/whether-it-s-people-walking-off-the-view-when-bill-o-reilly-makes-a/) [Eric Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantor/) > [The one thing the police cannot protect us from is a politician like Bill de Blasio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-one-thing-the-police-cannot-protect-us-from-is-a-politician-like/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Bill Hicks - blowtorch, excavator, truthsayer, and brain specialist. He will correct your vision. Others will drive on the road he built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/bill-hicks-blowtorch-excavator-truthsayer-and-brain-specialist-he/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) Browse all 2,663 Bills quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The New York Times is reporting that back in the '60s, presidential candidate Howard Dean used a letter from a doctor about a back condition to keep himself out of the draft in Vietnam and then spent 10 months skiing. Well it sounds like he's done the impossible. He actually made Bill Clinton and George Bush look like war heroes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay Leno" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-back-in-the-60s-presidential/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bills" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-back-in-the-60s-presidential/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/jay-leno-210_bills_the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-bac_2338498.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/jay-leno-210_bills_the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-bac_2338498.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/jay-leno-210_bills_the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-bac_2338498.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The New York Times is reporting that back in the '60s, presidential candidate Howard Dean used a letter from…” — Jay Leno", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jay Leno", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The New York Times is reporting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-back-in-the-60s-presidential/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-new-york-times-is-reporting-that-back-in-the-60s-presidential/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```