COALlTlON TO REDUCE NUCLEAR DANGERS

Reducing Arsenals * Preventing Terrorism * BuiIding Cooperation * Protecting America

American Public Supports Nuclear Weapons Test Ban

(September 5. Washington, DC) Public support for a nuclear weapons test ban has remained consistently high since the early days of the Cold War. Polling data collected by the Roper Center for Opinion Research show strong public support for a ban on nuclear weapons testing by the United States and other countries.

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR A TEST BAN

%
A
P
P
R
O
V
A
L
100 64
xx
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX		 28
XX
XX
XX
XX		 61
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX		 75
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX		 75
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX		 74
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX		 69
xx
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX		 71
xx
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX		 85
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX		 80
xx
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1957195819631966197719781984198719881994



Beginning the week of September 9, the United Nations will debate the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which prohibits all nuclear weapons testing. The graph above shows the leve! of public approval for a nuc!ear test ban over a four decade Iong period. While the specific questions have varied wirh historical changes, public sentiment has consistently and strongly supported an end to nuclear weapons testing. The polls indicate, with one exeption, that a limit or ban on nuc!ear weapons tests has been supported by a range of 61%-85% of the population. The most recent poll conducted in 1994 by the ICR Survey Research Group, revealed that 80% of Americans feel that the President "should push to get a nuc!ear test ban."

(for further information, contact Melinda Lamont-Havers, 202-223-5956)
21 Dupont Circle, NW * Fifth Floor * Washington, DC 20036
Phone (202) 223-5956 * Fax (202) 785-9034
e-mail: danger@stimpson.org http://www.stimson.org/pub/stimson/coalition/home.htm

Questions

1957 If all other nations, inciuding Russia, agee to stop making any more tests with nuclear weapons and a-bombs, should the US agree to stop or not?
(Gallup Organization, April)
64% Should agree to stop
28% Should not
8% No opinion

1958 Do you think the United States should stop making tests with nuclear weapons and H-bombs? (October, 1957 Sputnic I launched by the Soviet Union)
(GaIIup Organization, April)
28% Yes
60% No
11% No opinion

1963 Do you think the Senate should vote approval of this ban (agreement with Russia to have a partial ban on the testing of nuclear weapons) or not?

(GallIup Organization, August)
61% Yes, shouId
18% No, should not
21% No opinion

1966 Do you think it was a good idea or a bad idea that the United States signed the nuclenr test ban treaty with Russia against testing atomic bombs in the atmosphere?
(Louis Harris and Associates, October)
75% Good idea
8% Bad idea
17% Not sure

1977 Would you favor or oppose the US and Russia agreeing to end all nuclear weapons testing?
(Louis Harris and Associates, March)
75% Favor
12% Oppose
13% Not sure

1978 Would you favor or oppose the US and Russia agreeing to end all nuclear weapons testing? (Louis Harris and Associates, April-May)
74% Favor
17% Oppose
9% Not sure

1984 Would you favor or oppose an agreement between the US and the Soviet Union to ban all underground testing of nuclear weapons.(Louis Harris and Associates, November)
69% Favor
28% Oppose
3% No opinion

1987 A total US-Soviet ban on any nuclear testing would help to ease the arms race

(Gallup Organization, September - October)
71% Agree
21% Disagree
8% Don't know

1988 Negotiate with the Soviets for both countries to stop testing nuclear weapons. (The Daniel Yankelovich Group, Inc., November)
85% Approve
12% Disapprove
3% Not sure

1994 Do you think that the President should push to get a nuclear test ban approved by 1995 or not?
(ICR Survey Research Group, January)
80% Yes
16% No
3% Don't know