Ronald Reagan's Presidency: A Polling Retrospective

Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of President Ronald Reagan, the nation's 40th president. In the fall of 1988, as Reagan's presidency was ending, 60 percent of Americans approved of the job he was doing; just 30 percent disapproved. Among recent U.S. presidents, only Bill Clinton has exited the presidency with a higher approval rating.

While Reagan ended his time in office with high ratings, his popularity fluctuated throughout his presidency.

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CBS News' took its first measure of Reagan's presidency in April 1981, soon after he survived an assassination attempt, and the poll found 67 percent of Americans approved of the job he was doing.

During most of his first year in office, Reagan's approval rating hovered in the high 50s, but with the country mired in an economic recession and unemployment at 10 percent, his ratings declined. Throughout 1982 and most of 1983 his approval ratings remained below 50 percent. In January 1983, only 41 percent of Americans approved of the job Reagan was doing -- it would be the lowest rating of his presidency.

(At left, CBS News correspondents and producers tell their best stories about Reagan)

But as the economy began to rebound and unemployment declined, Reagan's ratings rebounded too. Heading into Election Day in 1984, 58 percent of Americans approved of his job performance, and he was easily reelected carrying 49 states. Reagan received some of his highest ratings in 1985 and 1986. In 1986, he reached an approval rating of 67 percent twice (in June and October) -- matching the rating he received when CBS News first measured it in 1981.

However, the end of 1986 brought the Iran-Contra scandal which saw high-profile investigations by Congress and the Tower Commission. The scandal negatively impacted the Reagan presidency and by February 1987, Reagan's approval rating dropped to 42 percent.

Things did turnaround for President Reagan in 1988, his last year in office. An arms control treaty with the Soviet Union and other signs of a warming trend in East-West relations helped restore Reagan's popularity which likely helped elect his vice president, George H. W. Bush, to the presidency.

(At left, Reagan's interviews on "60 Minutes" through the years)

As Reagan left office, Americans who approved of his job performance were more likely to cite domestic rather than foreign policy issues as reasons why they felt that way. Improving the economy, creating more jobs, or the general sense that "things had gotten better" were some of the items mentioned.

Today, most Americans look back favorably on Reagan's presidency. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation conducted in January found 68 percent of Americans approved of the way he handled his eight years in office, compared to 26 percent who disapproved.

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Below, watch CBS News Senior White House Correspondent Bill Plante's impression of Reagan:

Jennifer De Pinto is manager of election and survey information for CBS News. You can read more of her posts in Hotsheet here.

[Calendular]

This is an interesting article.

Although miles apart politically and in many other ways probably, the presidencies of President Reagan and President Clinton shared some features in common: both Presidents frequently delivered captivating speeches, both possessed a lot of personal charisma and both aroused vocal support and intense criticism. So it is interesting that both also enjoyed relatively high approval ratings as they left office.

Perhaps this statistic may in part reflect the impact of television coverage in national politics-- both President Reagan and President Clinton communicated effectively using that media.

[CarloCaraluzzo]

Does anyone think its funny that Dick Cheney was a featured player is three administrations plagued by international scandals? There is the power behind the throne. The Puppet Master. What is so damn silly is that a freaking 10 year old can connect the dots but the American Voter cannot.

[noloyalisti]

Everyone might want to spend a minute thinking about the many atrocities in Latin America and elsewhere that Reagan aided, covered up or shrugged off in his inimitable 'aw shucks' manner. That in addition to his War on the Middle Class makes this guy the head of the disaster class. Too bad we couldn't see it while he was doing his fiasco.

[cockroachcrusher]

And Reagan was a stool pigeon for the nut right wing during the ugly McCarthy era. While head of the Actor's Guild, a trusted position, he was falsely accusing members of being subversive and/or Communist, thus unjustly ruining many careers.

That set up this traitor (Bozo) for more treason when he stole the presidency by making a deal with the other con Khomeini to release the hostages when he, traitor Reagan, was elected President. The deal was arms for hostages.

Reagan's reign and legacy is a sad chapter in World History.

[cockroachcrusher]

He, Bozo, proved you can keep brain washing 60% of the population until the cows come home. He was corrupt (probably most indicted people from one administration), a racist (Opposed equal opportunity for ALL races), traitor (arms for hostages with Iran's Khomeini) and, in general, one of the most despicable persons to ever inhabit this planet.

[noloyalisti]

Reagan might very well have been the worst president of all time. He was the one who created the current giant corporation domination of the American and the world. He was a brainless corporate puppet who was able to fool a whole lot of stupid Americans that he actually cared about the common folk.

Meanwhile, his Ayn Rand and Chicago Boys economic elites were planning and carrying out the creation of an extremely evil rich bunch of people to rape and pillage the middle class. You could say we are almost at the end game of Reagan's dream (but our nightmare).

[GetAGrip007]

When February 6th rolls around the man I think of is Bob Marley! Happy 66th Bob! We sure miss you! "One love, one heart, one destiny." Bob Marley's words still ring true today.

[feisty 13]

REAGAN WAS A JOKE...HE UNDOUBTEDLY HAD ALZHEIMERS THE WHOLE TIME THAT HE WAS PRESIDENT...I GUESS THAT SINCE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NO ONE TO BRAG ABOUT...REGAN IS AS GOOD AS ANYONE....EVEN THOUGH HE HAD NO CLUE AS TO WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON!!!!

[larrryshrine]

Do you have to shout?

[perseus577]

We can thank Ronnie Reagan (and his toadie, David Stockman, Budget Director) for many things: Slashing public housing subsidies to the bare bone and creating the legions of homeless peoples that have inhabited our streets for the last 30 year; the beginnings of huge budget deficits; the national disgrace of the Iran-Contra arms scandal; and legitimizing every right-wing extremist. This senile old man with a pathetic need for approval --approval from anyone--served as a paid shill for GE and helped the members of the military-industrial complex to grow bigger and richer...while screwing the middle class and the poor into the ground. His anorexic diva wife, Nancy, and her reliance on astrologers made this nutty couple complete. None of the trillions spent on the big weapons systems (e.g. Star Wars) did anything to deter 19 Arab fanatics armed with 79 cent box cutters from the biggest and most violent attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. What a flatulent fraud! His lasting legacy: The rabid ignorance of Sarah Palin?

[pepawjoe]

With the sorry state of the "REAL UNION", that "We, the People" have to deal with on a daily basis, everyday. A look back at the past is not going to gain the American People one single IODA of the needs thuis country so desperately needs!
Corporate America has rebounded some what with the "American Taxpayers Tax Dollars being handed to them by our own "ELECTED OFFICIALS", against the People's will. The Government, which embodies these people we elected to be our spokespersons, and our representatives, have turned their backs on the People, and proceeded to embrace what-ever the Corporate World so-desired.
Ask yourself a simple question; What has the Government, (Our elected Officials) done over the past SEVERAL YEARS "for the best interest of the people"? HEALTHCARE REFORM you might say! Premimums are still going up! Medical Costs are still going up! Corporate Healthcare are still in total control of any healthcare costs! Corporate Healthcare have "NO" tangable accountability for their continuing cost increases! Who does the HEALTHCARE REFORM law benefit? Corporate America of course!
Government Transparentcy. The key decisions are still the hottest SECERT, BACKROOM, decisions making procedures by today's Government! SWITCH and BAIT tactics are doing very well in today's issues and legislation decisions!
What has the Government, been asked and told to cut, and sacfrice? Our Government, tells us what, when, where, eventually how much it will cost "We, the People", yet proclaim themselves exempt from any of their forced decisions and actions they beseige "We" Taxpayers with.
The Pasdt is History. Today is upon us, with "NO" real changes or needs upon the Horizion. Today, tomorrow or in the distant future. Now that's the REAKL STATE of THE UNION.