Opinion

CBS Poll: Clinton Right To Settle

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

November 16, 1998 / 2:36 PM EST / CBS

By three to one, Americans think the president did the right thing last week in settling the sexual harassment lawsuit against him by Paula Jones, the lawsuit that has led to an impeachment inquiry against him. By almost two to one, they say the settlement does not mean the president is guilty of harassment. Fifty-six percent say the settlement simply means Mr. Clinton just wanted to end the lawsuit.

WAS THERE SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

However, when asked for their own opinion about the issue of whether there was any sexual harassmentÂ—not about their opinion of the settlement itselfÂ—Americans are more than twice as likely to think Mr. Clinton is probably guilty of sexual harassment as to say he is probably not guilty.

Belief in Mr. Clinton's guilt in the Jones case rose after his August televised admission of inappropriate sexual behavior with Monica Lewinsky. The percentage in this poll saying he is probably guilty of sexual harassment is the highest yet. Still, 39 percent of the public say they can't say whether or not Clinton is guilty in this case.

While Republicans and Democrats agree it was the right thing to settle the case, they hold opposing views on Clinton's guilt. Nearly seven in 10 Republicans think Mr. Clinton is probably guilty of sexually harassing Paula Jones, compared with only a third of Democrats who say this.

And the meaning of the settlement is seen through partisan eyes. By 48 percent to 36 percent, Republicans say the settlement means he's guilty of harassment. Democrats, by 70 percent to 17 percent, say it means he just wanted the lawsuit to end.

This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 762 adults, interviewed by telephone November 15, 1998. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus four percentage points for results based on the entire sample.

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