Peace Now!: American Society and the Ending of the Vietnam War Book

What impact did American society's growing distaste for the war in Vietnam have on the war itself? Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, a professor of American history at the University of Edinburgh who studied at American universities during the war years, focuses on antiwar sentiment and activity as it flowed from four particular sectors of American society: students, African Americans, women, and the labor movement. The chronological narrative of how each of these segments of America came to turn against the war, and the affect each had on policymakers in Washington, is presented with considerable detail and countless anecdotes about players both great and small. For instance, a chapter describing how women became involved in the antiwar movement portrays characters as diverse as pro-Pentagon war correspondent Marguerite Higgins, writers-turned-activists Mary McCarthy and Susan Sontag, and entertainer Eartha Kitt (who turned an innocuous visit to the Johnson White House into an enormous controversy). Going beyond the notable names, Jeffreys-Jones portrays the depth of involvement of American women in the antiwar movement with considerable texture. While Peace Now! offers an insightful look at the turbulent America of the day, the book, with its focus on four specific groups within American society, is admittedly limited in its scope. The author's approach is entirely legitimate, but it should perhaps be noted that while the book does succeed in its stated goal, it isn't a comprehensive history of the antiwar movement. --Robert J. McNamaraRead More