Final answer:
Totalitarian communism was never widely supported in the U.S., with the nation actively working to contain and oppose it during the Cold War. Sympathy towards communism from some groups existed, but totalitarian communism was never mainstream. The goal of containing communism was due to its association with repression and a belief in protecting democracy and prosperity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout its history, the United States has seen various stances toward communism, but totalitarian communism was never broadly supported. During the Cold War, the U.S. government and mainstream politicians actively worked to contain and oppose communism, seeing it as a threat to democratic ideals and the capitalist way of life. This led to involvement in conflicts such as the Vietnam War, which was significantly influenced by the desire to prevent the spread of communism. Entities within the U.S., including intellectuals, students, and workers at times, might have expressed sympathy towards communism, but any support for the totalitarian version associated with states like the USSR was minimal and not mainstream. The U.S. perspective on communism remained one of containment throughout the Cold War because of its association with repressive governments and a belief in safeguarding democratic freedoms and economic prosperity.