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Opinion polling on the Ronald Reagan administration

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Since 1981, there has been opinion polling on the Ronald Reagan administration to gather and analyze public opinion on the performance and policies of the Ronald Reagan administration.

After becoming president on January 20, 1981,[1] Reagan survived an assassination attempt. CBS News launched their opinion polls with their first one showing 67% of Americans approving the president's job performance.[2] Similarly, an ABC News poll showed Reagan's highest approval rating at 73%.[3] His ratings by CBS remained above 50% until the United States experienced a recession and high unemployment in 1982.[2] According to a Gallup poll, his lowest rating was 35% in early 1983.[4][5] Headed into the 1984 presidential election, Reagan's ratings by CBS recovered, reaching 58% and higher throughout the next two years.[2] However, in January 1987, Gallup revealed that his rating dropped to 49% as a result of the Iran–Contra affair. By December 1988, the near end of his presidency, Reagan's rating recovered again at 63%.[4][6] Retrospective polls showed that a majority of Americans continued to approve of the Reagan presidency in the years and decades that followed it.[3][4]

Retrospective approval ratings

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup February 5–11, 2018 72% 24% 4% [7][8]
November 19–21, 2010 74% 24% 2% [9][10][11]
June 1–4, 2006 71% 27% 2% [9][12]
March 18–20, 2002 73% 22% 5% [9]
ABC News/The Washington Post All adults July 26–30, 2001 66% 27% 7% 1,352 telephone [13][3]
February 27, 2000 64% 26% 10% [13][14]
Gallup February 14–15, 2000 66% 32% 2% [9]
February 8–9, 1999 71% 27% 2%
November 15–16, 1993 52% 45% 3%
June 4–8, 1992 50% 47% 3%
November 8–11, 1990 54% 44% 2%

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

Presidential approval ratings

[edit]
Gallup approval ratings during the Reagan presidency
  disapprove
  unsure
  approve

January 1989

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
CBS News/The New York Times January 12–15, 1989 68% 26% 6% [15][16]

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

1988

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup December 27–29, 1988 63% 29% 8% [17][4]
November 11–14, 1988 57% 35% 8%
October 21–24, 1988 51% 38% 11% [17]
September 25–October 1, 1988 54% 37% 9%
August 19–22, 1988 53% 37% 10%
July 15–18, 1988 54% 36% 10%
July 1–7, 1988 51% 35% 14%
June 24–27, 1988 48% 40% 12%
June 10–13, 1988 51% 39% 10%
May 13–22, 1988 48% 43% 9%
CBS News/The New York Times All adults May 9–12, 1988 48% 39% 13% 1,382 telephone [18]
Gallup May 2–8, 1988 50% 38% 12% [17][4]
April 8–11, 1988 50% 39% 11%
March 8–12, 1988 51% 37% 12%
March 4–6, 1988 50% 42% 8%
January 22–25, 1988 49% 40% 11%

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

1987

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup December 4–7, 1987 49% 41% 10% [17][6]
October 23–26, 1987 51% 41% 8% [17]
August 24–September 2, 1987 49% 42% 9%
August 7–10, 1987 45% 41% 14%
July 10–13, 1987 49% 43% 8%
June 8–14, 1987 53% 40% 7%
June 5–8, 1987 47% 44% 9%
April 10–13, 1987 48% 43% 9%
March 14–18, 1987 47% 44% 9%
March 6–9, 1987 43% 46% 11%
ABC News/The Washington Post March 5–9, 1987 47% 52% 1% [19]
CBS News/The New York Times February 28–March 1, 1987 42% 46% 12% [20]
Gallup January 16–19, 1987 48% 43% 9% [17]

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

1986

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup December 5–8, 1986 48% 43% 9% [17]
December 4–5, 1986 47% 44% 9%
October 24–27, 1986 63% 29% 9%
September 13–17, 1986 63% 26% 11%
September 12–15, 1986 61% 25% 14%
August 8–11, 1986 61% 27% 12%
July 11–14, 1986 63% 28% 9%
June 9–16, 1986 64% 26% 10%
June 6–9, 1986 61% 29% 10%
May 16–19, 1986 68% 23% 9%
April 11–14, 1986 62% 29% 9%
March 4–10, 1986 63% 26% 11%
January 10–13, 1986 64% 27% 9%

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

1985

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup December 6–9, 1985 63% 29% 8% [17]
November 11–18, 1985 65% 24% 11%
November 1–4, 1985 62% 28% 10%
October 11–14, 1985 63% 29% 8%
September 13–16, 1985 60% 30% 10%
August 16–19, 1985 57% 32% 11%
August 13–15, 1985 65% 26% 9%
Newsweek All adults July 17–18, 1985 68% 753 telephone [21]
Gallup July 12–15, 1985 63% 28% 9% [17]
June 7–10, 1985 58% 32% 10%
May 17–20, 1985 55% 37% 8%
April 12–15, 1985 52% 37% 11%
March 8–11, 1985 56% 37% 7%
February 15–18, 1985 60% 31% 9%
January 25–28, 1985 64% 28% 8%
ABC News/The Washington Post January 11–16, 1985 68% 28% 4% [22]
Gallup January 11–14, 1985 62% 29% 9% [17]

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

1984

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup December 7–10, 1984 59% 32% 9% [17]
November 30–December 3, 1984 62% 30% 8%
November 9–12, 1984 61% 31% 8%
October 26–29, 1984 58% 33% 9%
September 28–October 1, 1984 54% 35% 11%
September 21–24, 1984 57% 36% 7%
September 7–10, 1984 57% 36% 7%
August 10–13, 1984 54% 38% 8%
July 27–30, 1984 52% 37% 11%
July 13–16, 1984 55% 35% 10%
July 6–9, 1984 54% 35% 11%
June 29–July 2, 1984 53% 37% 10%
June 22–25, 1984 54% 36% 10%
June 6–8, 1984 55% 33% 12%
May 18–21, 1984 54% 38% 8%
May 3–5, 1984 52% 37% 11%
April 6–9, 1984 54% 36% 10%
March 16–19, 1984 54% 39% 7%
February 10–13, 1984 55% 36% 9%
January 27–30, 1984 55% 37% 8%
January 13–16, 1984 52% 38% 10%

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

1983

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup December 9–12, 1983 54% 38% 8% [17]
November 18–21, 1983 53% 37% 10%
October 21–24, 1983 49% 41% 10%
October 7–10, 1983 45% 44% 11%
September 16–19, 1983 47% 43% 10%
September 9–12, 1983 47% 42% 11%
August 19–22, 1983 43% 46% 11%
August 12–15, 1983 43% 45% 12%
August 5–8, 1983 44% 46% 10%
July 29–August 1, 1983 44% 42% 14%
July 22–25, 1983 42% 47% 11%
June 24–27, 1983 47% 44% 9%
June 10–13, 1983 43% 45% 12%
May 20–23, 1983 46% 43% 11%
May 13–16, 1983 43% 45% 12%
April 29–May 2, 1983 43% 46% 11%
April 15–18, 1983 41% 49% 10%
March 11–14, 1983 41% 49% 10%
February 25–28, 1983 40% 50% 10%
January 28–31, 1983 35% 56% 9%
January 21–24, 1983 37% 53% 10%
January 14–17, 1983 37% 54% 9%

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

1982

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup December 10–13, 1982 41% 50% 9% [17][23]
November 19–22, 1982 43% 47% 10% [17]
November 5–8, 1982 43% 47% 10%
October 15–18, 1982 42% 48% 10%
September 17–20, 1982 42% 48% 10%
August 27–30, 1982 42% 46% 12%
August 13–16, 1982 41% 49% 10%
July 30–August 2, 1982 41% 47% 12%
July 23–26, 1982 42% 46% 12%
June 25–28, 1982 44% 46% 10%
June 11–14, 1982 45% 45% 10%
CBS News/The New York Times All adults May 19–23, 1982 43% 1,470 telephone [24]
Gallup May 14–17, 1982 45% 44% 11% [17]
April 30–May 3, 1982 44% 46% 10%
April 23–26, 1982 43% 47% 10%
April 2–5, 1982 45% 46% 9%
March 12–15, 1982 46% 45% 9%
February 5–8, 1982 47% 43% 10%
January 22–25, 1982 47% 42% 11%
January 8–11, 1982 49% 40% 11%

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

1981

[edit]
Pollster Segment Date(s) Approve Disapprove Unsure/no data Sample Method Source(s)
Gallup December 11–14, 1981 49% 41% 10% [17]
November 20–23, 1981 54% 37% 9%
November 13–16, 1981 49% 40% 11%
October 30–November 2, 1981 53% 35% 12%
October 2–5, 1981 56% 35% 9%
September 18–21, 1981 52% 37% 11%
August 14–17, 1981 60% 29% 11%
July 31–August 3, 1981 60% 28% 12%
July 24–27, 1981 56% 30% 14%
July 17–20, 1981 60% 29% 11%
June 26–29, 1981 58% 30% 12%
June 19–22, 1981 59% 29% 12%
June 5–8, 1981 59% 28% 13%
May 8–11, 1981 68% 21% 11%
April 10–13, 1981 67% 19% 14%
April 3–6, 1981 67% 18% 15%
ABC News/The Washington Post March 25–29, 1981 62% 23% 15% [3][25]
March 31, 1981 73% 16% 11% 505 telephone
Gallup March 13–16, 1981 60% 24% 16% [17]
February 13–16, 1981 55% 18% 27%
January 30–February 2, 1981 51% 13% 36%

  majority approve   plurality approve   majority disapprove   plurality disapprove

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ritter, Dan (August 31, 2013). "Presidential market scoreboard: Reagan to Obama". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Pinto, Jennifer (February 6, 2011). "Ronald Reagan's Presidency: A Polling Retrospective". CBS News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Sussman, Dalia (August 6, 2001). "Poll: Reagan Approval Improves". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Newport, Frank; Jones, Jeffrey; Saad, Lydia (June 7, 2004). "Ronald Reagan From the People's Perspective: A Gallup Poll Review". Gallup. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Palmer, Ewan (September 21, 2022). "Joe Biden's Approval Rating Now as Good as Ronald Reagan's at Same Stage". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Gao, George; Smith, Samantha (January 12, 2016). "Presidential job approval ratings from Ike to Obama". Pew Research Center. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Jones, Jeffrey (February 15, 2018). "Obama's First Retrospective Job Approval Rating Is 63%". Gallup. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Salvanto, Anthony; De Pinto, Jennifer (December 3, 2018). "George H.W. Bush: The public's view of him during his presidency". CBS News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d Jones, Jeffrey; Saad, Lydia (November 19–21, 2010). "USA Today/Gallup Poll: November Wave 1" (PDF). p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Saad, Lydia (December 6, 2010). "Kennedy Still Highest-Rated Modern President, Nixon Lowest". Gallup. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  11. ^ Hudson, John (December 6, 2010). "Who's the Most Popular Modern President?". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  12. ^ Jones, Jeffrey (June 16, 2006). "Americans' Retrospective Judgments of Clinton Improving". Gallup. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Sussman, Dalia (July 30, 2001). "Reagan Approval: Better in Retrospect" (PDF). ABC News. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  14. ^ Sussman, Dalia (August 6, 2001). "Improving With Age: Reagan Approval Grows Better in Retrospect". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 9, 2001. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  15. ^ Cosgrove-Mather, Bootie (June 7, 2004). "A Look Back At The Polls". CBS News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  16. ^ Roberts, Steven (January 18, 1989). "WASHINGTON IN TRANSITION; Reagan's Final Rating Is Best Of Any President Since 40's". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Ronald Reagan Public Approval". The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  18. ^ Dionne, E. (May 17, 1988). "Poll Shows Dukakis Leads Bush; Many Reagan Backers Shift Sides". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  19. ^ Broder, David (March 11, 1987). "PUBLIC DOUBT LINGERS ON REAGAN, IRAN AFFAIR". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  20. ^ Dionne, E. (March 3, 1987). "Poll Shows Reagan Approval Rating at 4-Year Low". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  21. ^ "Poll Finds Confidence In Reagan's Abilities To Meet Demands Of Office". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  22. ^ "68% Approval Rating for Reagan in Poll". Los Angeles Times. January 20, 1985. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "RATING ON REAGAN LAGS AT MIDTERM". The New York Times. January 16, 1983. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  24. ^ Clymer, Adam (May 28, 1982). "POLL FINDS SUPPORT OFF FOR G.O.P. AND ITS POLICY BUT NOT FOR REAGAN". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  25. ^ Sussman, Barry (April 2, 1981). "Shooting Gives Reagan Boost In Popularity". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.