Most Americans Think Clinton, Paula Jones Are Not Telling Whole Truth

Both Paula Jones and President Clinton have something to hide, most Americans believe.

According to a CBS/New York Times poll, conducted as Clinton prepared to answer lawyers' questions in Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit, most Americans agree that neither Bill Clinton nor Paula Jones is telling the entire truth.

More than three-quarters of those questioned think each of them is hiding something or outright lying - a belief the public has held since this case first arose.

A majority of the public (51 percent) says it doesn't know enough about the case to judge whether or not the President is guilty of sexually harassing Jones. Those who have an opinion are split on the President's guilt (22 percent) or innocence (23 percent).

Partisan loyalties play a big part in opinions about this case. By more than four to one, Republicans think the President is guilty. Democrats think he's not guilty by five to one -although almost half in both parties claim they don't know enough to say.

As a May trial date approaches, the public would rather the trial never happen. More than half (55 percent) say it would be better if lawyers settled this lawsuit outside of court.

This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 1,101 adults by telephone January 10-12, 1998. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus three percentage points for results based on the entire sample.