It was at about this time in 1972 that I registered to vote for the first time. I had to have a form mailed out to me from Los Angeles, and when I filled it out, I had to go down to the US consul in Saarbrücken, raise my right hand, and swear that the information I had entered was true--no "motor voter" in those days.
Then I mailed in my absentee vote in the California primary--for Rep. John Ashbrook (R-Ohio) for president.