Participation, Policy Preferences, and the War in Vietnam

The war in Vietnam raises a number of problems about the relationship between public opinion and political decision-making. On few issues—perhaps on no previous issue—has public opinion been monitored so closely by the public opinion polls. And on few issues has the attention of policy makers been so closely focused on the various ways in which public preferences can be manifested—in poll results, in the congressional and presidential mails, in demonstrations and marches. This article considers the kinds of “messages” carried to political leaders by these alternative means of expressing public concern.