What the American Public Thought:
QUESTION: Do you agree or disagree with the decision of the military court which found (Lt. William) Calley guilty (in connection with the My Lai incident) and gave him a life sentence?
Agree 7% Disagree 78% No opinion15%
QUESTION: The soldiers at My Lai were only following orders from their higher ups?
Agree77% Disagree 9% Not sure14%
QUESTION:Lt. Calley has been singled out unfairly as a scapegoat?
Agree77% Disagree 15% Not sure8%
QUESTION:Do you think the (Lt.) Calley sentence of life imprisonment (after his court martial finding of guilty in the My Lai incident) is fair or too harsh, or too lenient?
Fair 13% Too harsh 79% Too lenient 1% No opinion 7%
These were telephone surveys to 10,005 Americans. they took place across the U.S on April 1st, 1971 for President Nixon's.
Surprisingly most Americans believed that what had happened was not entirely Lt. Calley's fault, which is true. However, this incident only made them hate the Vietnam War even more and cause many to show disrespect towards the veterans that came home after the end of the war. Many veterans felt as though they were being dishonored for fighting and it cause them to have deep distaste toward most of the American public.
Agree 7% Disagree 78% No opinion15%
QUESTION: The soldiers at My Lai were only following orders from their higher ups?
Agree77% Disagree 9% Not sure14%
QUESTION:Lt. Calley has been singled out unfairly as a scapegoat?
Agree77% Disagree 15% Not sure8%
QUESTION:Do you think the (Lt.) Calley sentence of life imprisonment (after his court martial finding of guilty in the My Lai incident) is fair or too harsh, or too lenient?
Fair 13% Too harsh 79% Too lenient 1% No opinion 7%
These were telephone surveys to 10,005 Americans. they took place across the U.S on April 1st, 1971 for President Nixon's.
Surprisingly most Americans believed that what had happened was not entirely Lt. Calley's fault, which is true. However, this incident only made them hate the Vietnam War even more and cause many to show disrespect towards the veterans that came home after the end of the war. Many veterans felt as though they were being dishonored for fighting and it cause them to have deep distaste toward most of the American public.