Research Catalog

Casualties, public opinion, and Presidential policy during the Vietnam War / Mark Lorell, Charles Kelley, Jr. with the assistance of Deborah Hensler.

Title
Casualties, public opinion, and Presidential policy during the Vietnam War / Mark Lorell, Charles Kelley, Jr. with the assistance of Deborah Hensler.
Author
Lorell, Mark A., 1947-
Publication
Santa Monica, CA. : Rand Corp., [1985].

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Details

Additional Authors
  • Kelley, Charles.
  • Hensler, Deborah R., 1942-
  • Kelley, Charles, Jr.
  • Project AIR FORCE (U.S.)
  • United States. Air Force
  • Rand Corporation.
Description
xi, 92 p. : ill.; 23 cm.
Summary
This report examines the relationship between U.S. casualties and public support for U.S. military intervention in Korea and Vietnam, and concludes that a strong inverse relationship existed between the two. It also assesses to what extent concern over adverse public reaction to U.S. casualties and the resulting decline in public support influenced presidential decisionmaking with respect to military intervention in Vietnam, overriding purely strategic or military considerations. The research approach consisted primarily of interviews with senior Johnson Administration officials. It concludes that (1) limited wars often cost more and last longer than anticipated, (2) public support inevitably declines with mounting casualties, no matter what interests are at stake, and (3) democracies can't continue fighting limited wars indefinitely with steadily declining public support. It recommends that minimizing U.S. casualties should be a central objective in the formulation of new strategies, force configurations, and weapon systems for limited war contingencies.
Series Statement
Rand publication series ; R-3060-AF
Uniform Title
Rand publication series ; R-3060-AF.
Subject
  • 1961-1975
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975 > Casualties
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975 > Public opinion
  • Presidents > United States
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975 > United States
  • Public opinion > United States
  • United States > Foreign relations
Note
  • "March 1985."
  • "A Project Air Force report prepared for the United States Air Force."
Bibliography (note)
  • Bibliography: p. 87-92.
Processing Action (note)
  • committed to retain
ISBN
0833006487
OCLC
  • 12170698
  • SCSB-10498486
Owning Institutions
Harvard Library