[CholeraJoe]

I went to work in the fields in Alabama when I was 15. Thankfully, I didn't have to raise a family then but that was my discretion.

I believe that not serving in the military detracts from your citizenship qualilfication.

Bill Clinton was the only able-bodied President since Hoover who did not serve in the US military.

Roosevelt- Not able bodied
Truman US Army WWI
Eisenhower US ARMY WWII
Kennedy US Navy WWII
Johnson US Navy WWII
Nixon US Navy
Ford US Navy
Carter US Navy,(shudder)
Bush I US Navy WWII
Bush II USAFR

I shudder at all of the Navy nerds. We don't need another Navy nerd like Kerry. Military service does not necessarily qualify one to be President - ergo Clark.

[CholeraJoe]

Mea culpa, I forgot Ronald Reagan, US Army, WWII.

[Ophiucus]

Your list omitted Reagan - Army (Cavalry) then transferred to the Army Air Corps.

I believe that not serving in the military detracts from your citizenship qualilfication.

Unfortunate statement. Serving should augment the sense of honor and duty towards this nation and being a citizen but it should not give license to denigrate those who do not.

While recommended, it could be impractical. How large would our military be if all citizens were enrolled at point in their life? What would happen to the quality of personnel with the resulting high turnover rates of some kind of manditory service? What would happen to the worth of service if compulsory to make all better citizens.