Today’s Straight Dope e-mail mentioned the classic:
"STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 11/10/1976
Dear Cecil:
Better check the mirror before venturing out in Chicago,
because, according to a city Ugliness Ordinance, “No person
who is diseased, maimed, mutilated or in any way deformed
so as to be an unsightly or disgusting object, or an improper
person to be allowed in or on the public ways or other public
places in this city”
Back in the days when there was a draft, there was a similar statute in the draft regulations. I do not have my copy anymore, but it went something like this:
xxx.x HEAD
xxx.x.x Loss or congenital absence of the bony structure…
…
xxx.x.y Unsightly or deformed …
Many people sent messages to their draft board in the late 60’s seeking exemption under the “ugly clause” 