Bush's Final Approval Rating: 22 Percent

CBS News/N.Y. Times Poll Finds President Will Leave Office With Lowest Final Approval Rating Ever

(CBS)  President Bush will leave office as one of the most unpopular departing presidents in history, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll showing Mr. Bush's final approval rating at 22 percent.

Seventy-three percent say they disapprove of the way Mr. Bush has handled his job as president over the last eight years.

Mr. Bush's final approval rating is the lowest final rating for an outgoing president since Gallup began asking about presidential approval more than 70 years ago.

The rating is far below the final ratings of recent two-term presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, who both ended their terms with a 68 percent approval rating, according to CBS News polling.

Recent one term presidents also had higher ratings than Mr. Bush. His father George H.W. Bush had an end-of-term rating of 54 percent, while Jimmy Carter's rating was 44 percent.

Harry Truman had previously had the lowest end-of-term approval at 32 percent, as measured by Gallup.

Views of Mr. Bush's popularity are highly partisan. Only 6 percent of Democrats approve of the job he has done as president, while 57 percent of Republicans approve. Eighteen percent of independents approve.

Interestingly, Mr. Bush also has the distinction of having the highest approval rating for a president, as well as the lowest.

In November 2008, just before the presidential election, only 20 percent approved of the job he was doing as president - the lowest of any president since Gallup began asking the question in 1938.

But Mr. Bush enjoyed a high approval rating of 90 percent -- the highest of any president -- following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

Mr. Bush edged out his father for that highest rating. George H.W. Bush received an 88 percent approval rating in 1991 amid the success of the first Gulf War.

Truman comes closest to Mr. Bush's record low approval rating of 20 percent. In February 1952, just 22 percent of Americans approved of the job Truman was doing as president.

Evaluations Of The President

Half of all Americans, when they look back on Mr. Bush's eight years in office, believe he has been a poor president. Thirty-three percent think he has been an average president. Twelve percent say he has been a good president, and only 5 percent say he has been a very good president.

This evaluation is more negative than the ones Americans gave both the current president’s predecessor, Mr. Clinton, and the president’s father.

The president has also fallen short of expectations: As Mr. Bush was preparing to enter the White House in January 2001, 43 percent thought he would be a very good or good president. Only 12 percent thought he would be a poor one.

As for the incoming president, the CBS News poll also asked about expectations of President-elect Barack Obama. Sixty-eight percent think Mr. Obama will be a good or very good president - 25 points higher than expectations for Mr. Bush.

Nine in 10 Democrats expect Mr. Obama to be a good president, including 48 percent who think he will be a "very good" one. Republicans are less hopeful, but 38 percent still say Mr. Obama will be a good president.

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The Complete Final Bush Poll (.pdf)
Complete Poll: Expectations Of Obama (.pdf)
Interactive Graphic: Bush's Approval Rating Through The Years
Kathy Frankovic: Bush's Popularity Reaches Historic Lows
Search Recent CBS News Polling
Complete Coverage Of The Bush Legacy

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Opinions of Mr. Bush personally have also taken a hit since his term began, and he receives his lowest favorability rating of his presidency in this poll. Just 26 percent of Americans view the president favorably, while 60 percent view him negatively. In February 2001, a month into his presidency, 42 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of Mr. Bush.

Vice President Dick Cheney

Vice President Dick Cheney also leaves office amid negative perceptions, as his approval rating stands at just 13 percent. That matches his lowest approval since he assumed office.

Forty-four percent of Americans now view Cheney unfavorably, while 42 percent are undecided or haven't heard enough.

This is a reversal from March 2001, when CBS News took its first measure of Cheney’s favorability as vice president. Back then, 34 percent held a favorable opinion of the vice president and only 11 percent viewed him unfavorably.

On The Issues

Assessments of Mr. Bush's handling of two critical issues - the war in Iraq and the economy - are poor. He does better on the issue of terrorism - his strongest area during his years as president - but, even here, less than half approve of his handling of the issue.

In light of the Sept. 11 attacks and the U.S. military action in Iraq two years later, terrorism and the Iraq war have come to define Mr. Bush's presidency. The nation's struggling economy has recently had an impact as well.

Mr. Bush never received stellar ratings on the economy, but as the nation's economic concerns have become more severe, his rating on the issue has plummeted. Currently, 17 percent approve and 77 percent disapprove of his handling of the economy.

In September 2008, amid the collapse and subsequent bailout of some of the nation's financial institutions, just 16 percent approved of the president’s handling of the economy - a record low for him. His highest rating on the economy came in October 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

[niners007]

You can chalk a large portion of his poll numbers up to the drive by media. NEVER I mean NEVER have I seen the media so relentlessly pound on a president. Even Nixon and Carter didn't have to endure the 24/7 news cycle back then and that was when real journalism still existed. No offense Dan Rather. Was Bush the greatest president? NO..Was he the worst NO. History will judge Bush more favorably than most think or will allow themselves to believe. Bush became someone people loved to hate, even when they couldn't explain it. Time however has a way of shedding the politics of this age and will reveal a president that acted in the best interest of his country. Believe it or not..I hope our youth learns that substance is more important than rhetoric in future elections. I am still waiting for my free mortgage, health care and money. Is the check in the mail yet? Can I quit my job yet?

[laurieleemoo]

So...anyone care to talk about the 8% approval rating which Congress has under the leadership of the Nancy Pelosi and the majority of congress being Democrats.

It seems you people don''t really like it when someone points that out do you?

And very rarely do you hear the media talk about it.....No....they would rather talk about Bush....and blame everything on Bush.

Sorry folks....but our President is not a dictator and Congress is actually the ones that should be taking most of the blame. After all....they have been ineffective and unable to get anything done. All they know...is how to be divisive, ineffective and blame GW for everything.

It seems that Congress, with their 8 PERCENT APPROVAL rating does not want to take ANY responsibility for where we are today....and it also seems that the American people too would like to place ALL the blame on Bush and completely let CONGRESS OFF THE HOOK.

You all really need to come across as less ignorant and realize that its actually CONGRESS who needs to take most of the blame.....

Oh and by the way....if you do not recall....76% of congress voted to go to war in Iraq!

God the ignorance of the American people is truly baffling!

[shedhouserob]

You can''t help but think that the 22% that think Georgie was the best president and the 13% that think *** the prick was the best vise president didn''t know which coast Florida was on or who was the first president of the US os A!

[shedhouserob]

You can''t help but like good ol boy Georgie, he''s a likable guy. Then turn your attention to the boss- *** the prick Cheney! who in their right mind would like this self serving corporate person that sold the United States down the tube! If any body deserves to be impeached it''s this low life.

[noloyalisti]

Give lobotomies to that 22%. Quick, it''s the law.

[shedhouserob]

hetup- We Americans didn''t invade Irag- Cheney and Cheney and Cheney with puppet Bush did along with Rummy. If that 22% had a open mine it would be 0 %

[noloyalisti]

It''s hard to believe there are STILL 22 percent that are that mindless and twisted in this country. It''s scary and must be the failure of our public education system.

[bgjdavid]

The biggest reason for Bush''s failure is his complete and passionate attachment to Israel. Most of his advisors were dual citizens of Israel and were overwhelming supporters of the Jewish state including Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Douglas Feith, etc. The Israelis have continued its illegal and brutal occupation of the Palestine,confiscating more land during these last 8 years while continuing to build thousands of more illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian land while receiving more U.S. military and economic aid than ever befroe. Israel was able to convince Bush for an additional $30 billion in aid during his last year in the presidency, even while this country was in the worse economic condition than ever. Israel was also able to convince George Bush that Iraq was a threat to the U.S. and possessed weapons of mass destruction and this was relayed to Bush by his Jewish advisors. All along, Iraq was not a threat to the U.S. but a possible threat to Israel and what better way of desposing a threat than to have the U.S. use its blood and money to fight its wars.
Israel has caused the U.S. to lose all respect from other nations which were once our friends. George Bush never got tough with Israel and his poor Secretary of State, Condolleezza Rice was just as bad.
The United States, under George Bush, has created the biggest and most arrogant monster in the Middle East.

[quickly101]

Legacy, what legacy? An economy in shambles, a war that never should have been fought, unregulation of wall st led to financiers running rampant, oil speculators gouged the American public for billions, throwing aside the constitution in the name of interrogation. But the most tragic legacy of Bush are the thousands of American lives lost and countless innocent Iraqi dead. Not to mention the thousands of young Americans walking around on artifical legs or using artifical hands or arms. This man will go down as the worst American President of all time. Harding and Grant were good compared to this spoiled Texas millionaire. Thank the good Lord he is gone from the White House.

[dave_p5]

Really? That high?

[liberty4you]

My Bad.

I forgot there a lot of Appalachian Americans that can''t speak American English.

Or for that matter, North American English.

Those Catch 22 percent of Americans who support Goldman Sach''s war on Terror, must keep calling

"Larry King Live" since he''s got all "the interviews everyone is talking about"

-And this includes the false intelligence to invade Iraq?

"Larry, this is Virginia, from Virginia... I love your show Larry... Why don''t you tell me more about something that doesn''t really matter to most Americans?"

"Larry, can you tell me more about CNN"s fabrication of the war, and how they helped sway the American public?" No....

[gonesouthern]

Bush was the "Worst" president this country ever had,period...
All I want to know is what were those 22 outa 100 people thinking when asked if they approved or disapprove of the job this Idiot has done and they said he has done a wonderful job of putting this country in the worst mess since recorded time !!!
That just tells me that 22% of this country does not have a clue as to the damage Bush did in just 8 brief years.
Those 22% must accept blame as well as Bush for what will go down in history as the darkest presidential term ever to date.

[liberty4you]

Listen to this America.

The Main Stream Media (MSM) has a theory about who would do something about the war and economy.

The Democrats were to be said to back the notion that the economy and war could not get any worse.

The Republicans were to be said to believe that it could a lot worse.

Is it going to get a lot worse?

Come on, 22 percent disapproval of the handling of America''s top post. I mean, it is really about 23, 24, or 25 percent in the tank.

Now speaking as a Republican, as they know best, it will get a lot lower.

[ericmiami]

"All hat and no cattle." What a nightmare it has been.

[messiahx4eve]

Less than 22% would reveal that he did, in fact, commit criminal acts. This was explained to me by a very good sociologist that showed me that numbers in these instances show criminal behaviors that are either "Least" or "Most" tolerated by society as a whole. Cheney''s is 13% which I would assume would be criminal do to his attitude towards the people in society as a whole. To both men, words mean NOTHING, actions speak volumes but without attaching the Exeutive Privilege to the political office of the presidency and vice presidency, they WOULD have been tried as criminals and possibly still can, but most people do not want to believe that criminal behavior can be attached to such a prestigeous position. It would be like allowing Jeffery Dalhmer, were he still alive, to host his own cooking show on the food channel or Michael Jackson to host an afterschool children''s show. Probably no one would watch either, but this is how we are hardwired to the federal government setup in our society today.

[lucasnico]

Does legacy even matter? People live, they die, they rot in the ground. You better get yours and do what you want while you can.

Posted by titletrack

Now there''s the attitude that''s going to turn this country around!

[cmc1227]

I can honestly say don''''t blame me, I never ever voted for Bush, but instead for Buchanan and Kerry. Anyone .....Gore, Nader, Buchanan or Kerry would have been far better for the USA. As a nation we''''ve experienced what happens when a corrupt fool is handed the Presidency. Posted by cbsblogger

Buchanan and Gore yes, I voted for Gore, but Kerry and Nader. When Kerry ran I didn''t vote, both Bush and him were wrong. Nader is just plain wrong. When he made the comment about Obama being an Uncle Tom after the election? I think that sealed his fate, we will never see him around again.

[cbsblogger]

I can honestly say don''t blame me, I never ever voted for Bush, but instead for Buchanan and Kerry. Anyone .....Gore, Nader, Buchanan or Kerry would have been far better for the USA. As a nation we''ve experienced what happens when a corrupt fool is handed the Presidency.

[neonink]

So "W" really means worst?

[neonink]

I''m surprised they found 22%.