The option that best describes how the press handled the Spanish American War and the Vietnam War is:
"The free press influenced the public to support the Spanish American War and diminished public support for the Vietnam War."
This reflects the historical context where sensational journalism, particularly by figures like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, helped generate public support for the Spanish American War. In contrast, during the Vietnam War, coverage of the brutal realities of combat and the anti-war movement contributed to a decline in public support for the war.