ARTS&LIFE BOOK REVIEW L ike most young men in the United States in 1971, I spent a lot of time thinking about “the Draft. ” Although it was beginning to wind down, the war in Vietnam was still raging, still consuming the lives of Americans in the armed forces. I and my cohorts still faced the draft but, by this time, it was obvi- ous to most that this conflict was a losing proposition, unwinnable and unwanted. There appeared to be three general choices for men fac- ing the draft: wait and take your chances, whether we wanted to do so or not. Perhaps we would get a high lot- tery number or should we choose another option: preemptively enlist in the Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard, if possible, before being drafted, and then maybe serve under safer circumstances. Or should we hightail it to Canada or another foreign land? It is not too much to say that nearly every young American man, as they neared high school graduation in the 1960s and early 1970s, were considering their options. There is extensive literature on the mili- tary conduct of the Vietnam War (although Congress never officially declared it a “war”), books about the domestic politics underlying the war, and the evolution of the war protest movement, along with the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements and the general cultural revolution of the 1960s. However, only a few books provide firsthand narratives of those who resisted the draft. AUTHOR’S LOCAL ROOTS Eli Greenbaum’s new book, Hell, No, We Didn’t Go investigates the perspectives of resisters and is an important addition to the historiography of the Vietnam War. This is a well-crafted, thoughtful work, built upon a foundation of firsthand narratives of draft resistance during the Vietnam War. Greenbaum is a Jewish Detroiter who moved to the city in 1951 with his parents, immigrants from Israel. He was raised in Detroit, where his parents owned a small business, Supreme Home Furnishing, at McNichols Road and Schaefer Highway. After graduation from Mumford High, Greenbaum earned bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees from Wayne State University. He made a career as an attorney, a creative director at advertising, and as Local author provides accounts of Vietnam War protest and resistance. Hell, No, We Didn’t Go! Firsthand Mike Smith: I greatly appreciated your introduction to Hell, No, We Didn’t Go, which does a fine job of laying out your approach to your research, the interviewing process and general approach to a sensitive historical subject. You mention swapping “draft” stories with friends and your wife’s subsequent encouragement to write about the experience. What finally compelled you to write this book? Eli Greenbaum: The drive home from Pittsburgh and the conversation with my wife was the epiphany. I realized that there are lots of untold stories out there, stories that would “shine a light” regarding what young men were thinking and doing while waiting to see if they would be drafted or not. I realized these stories needed to be told, and I wanted to write about this because people, especially young people today, need to know. MS: You were raised in a Jewish family in Detroit. How did this impact your attitude toward the draft and the war in Vietnam? Did it make any difference for you or your Jewish friends? EG: I don’t know if it made a difference to others; I can only speak to my perspective and upbringing. My family valued education, knowledge and critical thinking — no blind obedience, and as my father often said when watching discussions on TV about a particular news issue: “I wonder what is going on behind the scenes?” This made me realize that whatever is reported by the media is just the surface; there is always more to the story. I learned “always ask questions.” I was also raised with traditional Jewish values. One does the best for one’s family, you work hard, you approach the world ethically, you Mike Smith Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair 40 | JULY 4 • 2024 One-on-One With Eli Greenbaum Eli Greenbaum