Washingtonpost.com: Iraq/Clinton Scandal Poll Results

Post Poll Results: The Jones Lawsuit Dismissal

Sunday, April 5, 1998

The latest Washington Post poll is based on random telephone interviews with 809 adults on April 2-4. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. For analysis of this poll, see The Post's April 5 story.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as president?


           -------Approve-----------    -------Disapprove--------   No
           Net   Strongly   Somewhat    Net   Somewhat   Strongly  Opin.
4/4/98      65     NA         NA         31      NA        NA        4
2/18/98     67     NA         NA         30      NA        NA        3
1/30/98     69     NA         NA         27      NA        NA        4
1/29/98     68     NA         NA         27      NA        NA        5
1/25/98     59     31         28         37      13        25        4
1/24/98     57     30         26         40      13        27        3
1/19/98     60     24         36         35      15        19        5
1/13/98     62     NA         NA         31      NA        NA        7
11/12/97    59     NA         NA         35      NA        NA        6
10/13/97    59     NA         NA         36      NA        NA        6
8/27/97     58     NA         NA         37      NA        NA        5
7/8/97      64     NA         NA         31      NA        NA        5
6/8/97      59     NA         NA         36      NA        NA        5
4/24/97     56     NA         NA         39      NA        NA        5
3/25/97     56     NA         NA         33      NA        NA       11
3/9/97      55     NA         NA         41      NA        NA        4
10/8/96*    58     NA         NA         38      NA        NA        4
10/8/96**   59     NA         NA         37      NA        NA        4
9/4/96**    57     NA         NA         38      NA        NA        4
8/5/96      59     NA         NA         37      NA        NA        4
6/30/96     56     NA         NA         39      NA        NA        5
5/22/96     58     20         37         39      17        22        3
3/31/96     52     21         30         40      16        25        8
3/17/96     53     19         34         45      19        26        2
3/10/96     55     23         32         40      17        24        4
4/21/96     51     NA         NA         43      NA        NA        6
1/7/96      53     22         31         43      16        28        4
11/19/95    54     NA         NA         41      NA        NA        5
11/13/95    54     20         34         41      20        21        5
10/1/95     52     17         35         43      19        24        5
7/17/95     51     14         37         45      20        25        4
6/8/95      47     NA         NA         45      NA        NA        8
5/14/95     56     20         36         41      23        18        3
3/19/95     52     17         35         45      19        26        3
3/5/95      46     NA         NA         49      NA        NA        4
1/29/95     54     20         34         43      21        22        3
1/4/95      45     13         31         51      22        29        5
12/20/94    44     NA         NA         50      NA        NA        6
11/6/94**   52     20         32         43      16        26        5
10/31/94    48     17         31         49      19        30        3
10/23/94    49     18         31         48      19        29        4
10/9/94     45     13         32         51      21        30        4
9/25/94     44     13         31         51      20        31        5
9/11/94     46     15         30         51      19        33        3
8/16/94     44     NA         NA         51      NA        NA        5
8/7/94      47     17         31         47      20        27        5
6/26/94     50     16         34         44      17        28        6
5/15/94     51     19         32         44      17        28        4
3/27/94     57     23         34         41      16        25        3
3/22/94     47     NA         NA         45      NA        NA        7
3/08/94     52     NA         NA         40      NA        NA        8
2/27/94     58     20         38         38      15        23        4
1/23/94     56     22         34         34      14        20       10
1/9/94      59     20         39         36      15        21        4
12/19/93    58     22         36         40      20        20        3
11/14/93    49     16         33         45      20        25        6
10/31/93    52     17         35         41      17        24        7
10/10/93    51     20         31         43      18        25        5
10/3/93     52     19         33         36      14        22       12
9/19/93     51     NA         NA         41      NA        NA        8
8/8/93      45     16         29         51      19        32        4
6/28/93     43     13         29         50      19        31        7
6/15/93     45     NA         NA         48      NA        NA        7
5/23/93     46     17         30         48      18        30        6
4/26/93     59     22         37         39      17        21        2
2/28/93     60     28         32         33      11        22        7
2/23/93     63     28         35         30      11        19        7
2/14/93     54     23         31         31      15        16       15

* Likely voters
** Registered voters

2. Do you think things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?


                Right      Wrong     No
               Direction   Track    Opin.
4/4/98           55         41        4
1/30/98          61         34        5
1/19/98          44         50        6
8/27/97          39         57        4
6/8/97           37         60        3
3/9/97           34         62        4
10/17/96**       40         55        5
10/16/96**       42         53        5
10/15/96**       43         52        5
10/14/96**       44         51        5
10/13/96**       44         51        5
9/04/96**        40         54        6
8/21/96          28         67        5
6/30/96          26         70        5
3/17/96          27         70        3
1/21/96          27         66        6
1/3/96           21         77        3
4/5/95           23         73        3
1/4/95           27         68        6
10/31/94         27         69        4
7/20/94          26         70        4
3/27/94          28         69        3
1/23/94          31         60       10
11/14/93         25         69        6
8/8/93           26         71        3
6/20/93          26         71        3
4/26/93          27         71        2
3/11/93          36         57        7
2/28/93          37         59        4
1/17/93          31         63        6
12/14/92         35         60        5
10/27/92**       22         76        2
10/4/92**        18         78        4
6/7/92           14         83        3
4/9/92           16         81        3
3/11/92          18         79        4
1/15/92          19         78        3
11/10/91         24         72        4
10/29/91         26         71        3
8/27/91          31         60        9
7/28/91          30         67        3
6/2/91           39         57        4
4/9/91           42         51        7
2/26/91          58         39        3
1/27/91          49         48        4
10/14/90         19         79        2
9/9/90           36         60        4
8/20/90          35         60        5
7/24/90          37         60        2
5/21/90          39         60        2
3/26/90          44         53        2
2/4/90           49         48        3
1/16/90          48         49        3
5/23/89          42         55        3
3/16/89          46         52        2
1/16/89*         51         46        3
10/25/88*        49         46        6
9/27/88          48         44        8
7/11/88          40         56        4
5/25/88          35         59        6
3/21/88          40         56        4
1/23/88          39         59        2
12/13/87         49         47        4
12/2/87          35         61        4
9/23/87          43         54        4
6/29/87          35         62        3
4/13/87          37         60        3
3/9/87           38         58        4
1/18/87          39         56        5
9/8/86           50         48        2
1/26/86          45         47        8
7/29/85          52         43        6
1/16/85          59         36        4
5/22/84          47         48        5
12/13/83         43         51        6
11/7/83          51         44        5
4/12/83          41         54        4
3/2/83           43         53        3
1/25/83          58         39        3
1/25/83          43         52        4
10/11/82         35         57        8
1/30/82          39         56        5
2/80             20         70       10
2/78             34         53       13
2/77             41         44       14
10/75            19         71        9
10/74            15         75       11
10/73            16         74       10

* Likely voters
** Registered voters

3. I'm going to read you some statements. After each please tell me whether or not each applies to Clinton or not. How about (READ ITEM) does it apply to Clinton, or not?


SUMMARY TABLE:
                                                No
                                  Yes    No    Opin.
A. He is honest and 
   trustworthy                     35    58      7
B. He has high personal moral      
   and ethical standards           29    64      7
C. He understands the problems     
   of people like you              56    41      3
D. He has done a good job keeping
   the economy strong              77    21      2
E. He is a strong leader           62    36      2

Trend (where available):

A. He is honest and trustworthy


               Yes    No    No Opin.
4/4/98          35    58       7
2/18/98         40    55       5
6/8/97          37    59       4
1/15/97         42    54       4
1/6/97          42    53       5
11/3/96*        43    52       6
11/3/96**       42    52       6
9/4/96**        43    52       5
8/5/96          44    52       4
6/30/96         40    54       6
3/17/96         44    53       2
4/5/95          42    55       2
3/27/94***      54    42       4
10/4/92** ***   44    44       3
6/7/92***       40    47      12

B. He has high personal moral and ethical standards


               Yes    No    No Opin.
4/4/98          29    64       7
2/18/98         28    66       6
6/8/97          41    54       4
1/15/97         40    55       4
1/6/97          38    59       3
9/4/96**        39    56       5
8/5/96          45    51       4
6/30/96         40    54       6
3/17/96         44    54       3
4/5/95          51    46       4
10/31/94        44    49       7

C. He understands the problems of people like you


                Yes    No    No Opin.
4/4/98           56    41       3
2/18/98          63    35       2
6/8/97           52    45       3
1/15/97          50    49       2
9/4/96 Reg.      57    40       2
8/5/96           55    43       2
6/30/96          56    41       3
3/17/96          55    43       1
6/8/95           51    45       3
3/19/95          55    43       2
3/5/95           50    49       2
10/31/94****     48    50       2
10/23/94****     44    54       1
6/26/94          52    46       2
3/27/94****      63    35       2
1/23/94          55    39       5
4/26/93          60    39       1
1/17/93          76    20       4
10/4/92**** **   67    28       6
10/4/92**** *    67    27       6
6/7/92****       59    33       8
4/9/92           49    42       9

D. He has done a good job keeping the economy strong


                Yes    No    No Opin.
4/4/98           77    21      2
2/17/98          79    19      1

E. He is a strong leader


               Yes    No    No Opin.
4/4/98          62    36        2
2/18/98         68    31        1
3/17/96         50    49        1
6/8/95          37    61        2
3/5/95          38    61        1
10/31/94        43    56        1
8/16/94         41    58        1
3/27/94         54    44        2
10/4/92         50    36       14
6/7/92          40    46       14
10/4/92**       50    36       14
10/4/92*        50    35       15
6/7/92          40    46       14

* Likely voters
** Registered voters
*** Wording "and trustworthy" omitted
**** "understands the needs and problems of average Americans"

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job?


               Approve        Disapprove     No Opin.
4/4/98            47              45            8
1/30/98           55              35           10
1/25/98           56              37            8
1/24/98           55              38            7
1/19/98           47              49            5
10/13/97          36              57            7
8/27/97           39              54            7
7/8/97            40              53            6
4/24/97           40              53            7
3/9/97            35              60            5
8/5/96            42              52            7
6/30/96           35              58            7
5/22/96           35              60            5
3/10/96           30              64            6
1/7/96            31              65            5
11/19/95          27              68            5
10/1/95           32              65            3
7/17/95           34              63            3
3/19/95           39              56            5
1/29/95           42              52            6
10/31/94          21              72            8
10/23/94          18              78            4
9/11/94           24              70            5
6/26/94           34              61            5
3/27/94           35              62            3
2/27/94           32              64            4
1/23/94           29              60           11
11/14/93          28              66            6
8/8/93            33              64            3
4/26/93           30              69            2
1/17/93           29              66            6
4/9/92            17              78            5
3/18/92           19              76            5
3/8/92            22              73            6
2/2/92            32              64            4
12/15/91          35              59            6
10/21/91          45              50            5
6/2/91            49              46            5
10/14/90          34              63            3
2/4/90            41              55            4
1/16/90           39              55            6
8/21/89           42              53            5
5/23/89           54              44            2
2/14/89           53              44            3
1/23/88*          43              53            4
6/1/87*           56              40            4
6/22/85*          54              37            9
5/83*             33              43           24
6/81*             38              40           22
6/79*             19              61           20
9/78*             29              49           22
6/77*             34              42           24
6/75*             29              54           17
8/74*             48              35           17

* Gallup

5.I'm going to read you a few names. For each, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person, or perhaps you don't know enough to say. How about (Read name)?


Summary table:
                        Favorable   Unfavorable   No Opin.
Bill Clinton               55           39           6
Hilary Clinton             58           33          10
Al Gore                    54           27          19
Newt Gingrich              34           43          23
Monica Lewinsky             9           58          33
Kenneth Starr              22           43          35
Paula Jones                 9           64          28
Kathleen Willey            12           32          56

Full wording and Trend (where available):


Bill Clinton
                    Favorable    Unfavorable    No Opin.
4/4/98                 55            39            6
2/18/98                56            41            3
1/30/98                60            35            6
1/25/98                54            42            5
1/19/98                59            35            6
1/12/98                59            33            7
10/13/97               59            37            4
9/10/97                57            38            5
3/9/97                 60            38            3
9/4/96**               58            38            4
6/30/96                56            38            5
10/30/95               54            41            6
7/17/95                59            38            3
6/8/95                 53            43            4
3/19/95                55            42            3
10/31/94               51            44            5
5/15/94                57            40            3
3/27/94                59            37            4
1/23/94                60            32            8
11/14/93               58            37            5
11/11/93               52            43            6
8/8/93                 56            39            5
4/26/93                59            29           12
2/23/93                59            30           11
1/17/93                68            20           11
10/18/92*              56            36            8
9/27/92*               55            36            9
8/23/92**              54            36           10
7/19/92**              58            23           18
7/8/92                 52            33           15
6/7/92                 41            38           21
3/18/92                37            37           26
3/11/92                39            31           30
2/2/92                 37            24           39
1/27/92                23            11           66
10/21/91               13             9           78


Hillary Clinton
            Favorable    Unfavorable    No Opin.
4/4/98         58            33            10
1/30/98        60            30            10
1/19/98        52            39             9
3/9/97         47            44             9
9/4/96**       47            42            12
6/30/96        44            47             9
1/21/96        28            36            36
1/19/96        32            34            34
10/31/94       47            44             8
5/15/94        54            41             5
3/27/94        53            39             8
1/23/94        55            34            11
11/14/93       58            33             9
8/8/93         59            33             8
4/26/93        54            26            20
2/23/93        59            24            18
1/17/93        51            20            29
7/8/92         30            26            43
3/28/92        28            22            51


Al Gore
                  Favorable    Unfavorable    No Opin.
4/4/98                 54          27          19
1/30/98                51          30          19
1/25/98                55          29          16
1/19/98                48          36          17
10/13/97               45          40          15
9/10/97                49          33          19
4/24/97                53          29          19
3/9/97                 56          29          15
3/19/95                57          27          16
10/31/94               41          37          22
5/15/94                58          27          15
3/27/94                57          25          18
11/14/93               56          28          15
8/23/92**              52          19          29
7/19/92**              55          12          33


Newt Gingrich
                    Favorable    Unfavorable      No Opin.
4/4/98                 34            43              23
1/30/98                27            46              27
1/19/98                32            49              19
9/10/97                26            52              22
4/24/97                23            59              18
9/4/96**               26            55              19
6/30/96                25            57              18
10/30/95               29            45              26
7/17/95                34            46              20
6/8/95                 32            51              18
3/19/95                31            46              23


Monica Lewinsky
                    Favorable    Unfavorable      No Opin.
4/4/98                  9            58              33
1/30/98                 7            56              37


Kenneth Starr
                    Favorable    Unfavorable      No Opin.
4/4/98                 22            43              35
1/30/98                21            36              43


Paula Jones
                    Favorable    Unfavorable      No Opin.
4/4/98                  9            64              28


Kathleen Willey
                    Favorable    Unfavorable      No Opin.
4/4/98                 12            32              56

* Likely voters
** Registered voters

6. As you may know, earlier this week a federal judge dismissed the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against President Clinton by Paula Jones, saying there were no real issues for trial in the case. Do you approve of the judge dismissing the case or do you think the case should have gone forward?


                         Case should
           Approve        go forward        No Opin.
4/4/98       67              29                4

7. How did you mainly feel when you heard about the judge's decision in the Jones case, were you mainly:


          Angry    Disappointed    Relieved    Pleased    No Opin.
4/4/98      7          24             23         38          8

8. Just your best guess -- do you think that Clinton did or did not make an improper sexual advance toward Paula Jones, or don't you know enough about it to say?


                                 Did not
         Did make advance       make advance      No Opin.
4/4/98         42                    21              37

9. As you may know, there have been other charges of sexual misconduct made against Clinton, which he has denied. Are you inclined to think that Clinton has or has not engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct?


            Has engaged    Has not engaged      No Opin.
4/4/98          61              26                 13

10. Do you think the question of whether or not Clinton has engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct is an important issue or not important?


              Important    Not important     No Opin.
4/4/98            47            52              2

11. There also have been charges that Clinton may have broken the law by lying under oath about sexual misconduct or by encouraging others to lie under oath. Clinton has denied it. Are you inclined to think that Clinton has or has not broken the law in this way?


           Clinton broke    Clinton did not
              the law        break the law     No Opin.
4/4/98          50               37               13

12. Do you think the question of whether or not Clinton may have broken the law by lying under oath about sexual misconduct or by encouraging others to lie under oath is an important issue or not important?


              Important    Not important    No Opin.
4/4/98            72            26             2

13. Suppose Clinton IS found to have lied under oath or encouraged others to lie in connection with these matters. Which would you most prefer to see happen (READ LIST):

Statement A: Clinton leaves office by resignation or impeachment,

Statement B: Clinton is formally reprimanded by Congress but does not leave office,

Statement C: Clinton apologizes to the country but no further action is taken,

Statement D: Or, would you prefer that nothing happen.


            ---Statements---     Something         No
            A    B    C    D     else (vol.)      Opin.
4/4/98      37   22   21   16        2              2

14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kenneth Starr, the Whitewater special prosecutor, is handling his investigation of the Monica Lewinsky matter?


            Approve    Disapprove     No Opin.
4/4/98        31           51            19
2/18/98       31           54            15

14.1 Do you think Starr should be allowed to continue the investigation as long as necessary, or that a time limit should be put on the investigation, or that the investigation should end now?


                                           End           No
        As necessary    Time limit     investigation    Opin.
4/4/98       27            35              34            4

15. Do you think Starr is mainly interested in finding out the truth, or do you think he's mainly interested in hurting Clinton politically?


           Finding truth    Hurting Clinton      No Opin.
4/4/98          32               56                 12
2/18/98         30               63                  7

15.1 Do you think that Clinton or his advisors have attempted to illegally obstruct Starr's investigation or not?


                Yes    No    No Opin.
4/4/98           40    43       17

16. I'm going to read a few statements people have made about the current scandal. For each, tell me if you agree or disagree (IF ANSWER AGREE OR DISAGREE, ASK:) Do you agree/disagree strongly or agree/disagree somewhat?

Statement A: Clinton has only himself to blame for the scandal.


           --------Agree------------   ---------Disagree--------    No
           Net   Strongly   Somewhat   Net   Somewhat   Strongly   Opin.
4/4/98      58     40          18       40      20        20        2
1/30/98     55     37          18       42      16        25        3

Statement B: Clinton's political enemies are conspiring to bring down his presidency.


           --------Agree------------   ---------Disagree--------    No
           Net   Strongly   Somewhat   Net   Somewhat   Strongly   Opin.
4/4/98      61     41          21       35      16        19        3
1/30/98     59     39          20       35      16        19        6

17. Overall, do you think the scandal is mainly caused by Clinton's own personal conduct, or mainly due to the work of his political enemies?


           Clinton's       Clinton's         No
            conduct    political enemies    Opin.
4/4/98        48              46              6
1/30/98       43              47             10

18. How much impact do you think this scandal is currently having on Clinton's ability to govern? Is it having a major impact, a minor impact, or no impact?


             -------Impact--------
             Net    Major    Minor    No impact    No Opin.
4/4/98        80     29        50        20           *

* indicates percentage of less than .5

19. And how much impact do you think this scandal will have on Clinton's ability to govern in the future? Will it have a major impact, a minor impact, or no impact?


             -------Impact--------
             Net    Major    Minor    No impact    No Opin.
4/4/98        71     25        45        26           4

COMPARE TO:

How much impact do you think this scandal will have on Clinton's ability to govern? Will it have a major impact, a minor impact, or no impact?


             -------Impact--------
             Net    Major    Minor    No impact    No Opin.
1/30/98       75     28        47        23           2

20. From what you've seen of Clinton's presidency so far, do you think that in the future he will be remembered more for the accomplishments of his administration, or more for the allegations about his personal life?


              Accomplishments    Personal life    No Opin.
4/4/98             28                 68             4
1/30/98            33                 61             6

21. Did you happen to vote for Bill Clinton in the 1996 Presidential election?


              Yes     No     No Opin.
4/4/98         39     59        2

22. (Of those who voted for Clinton in 1996) If you had it to do over again, would you still vote for Clinton, or not?


              Yes     No     No Opin.
4/4/98         85     10        5

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