Choosing War: The Lost Chance for Peace and the Escalation of War in Vietnam

by Fredrik Logevall

A Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) poll released in mid December showed that 25 percent of respondents did not know there was fighting in Vietnam. (A slightly larger number did not know China was communist. Of those who did, 71 percent favored talks with Beijing to improve relations.) Of the informed, close to half favored withdrawal, and only 24 percent were “definitely in favor” of using U.S. ground forces to avoid a communist victory.54 A University of Michigan study of public attitudes released in mid December showed similar results. Asked if the United States should get out of Vietnam immediately, 37 percent of those polled “strongly opposed” withdrawal, and 18 percent were “definitely” in favor of it. But when asked if American forces should be used in the struggle, 32 percent were opposed, and only 24 percent (the same figure as in the CFR study) were supportive.