Since 1981, there has been
opinion polling on the Ronald Reagan administration
to gather and analyze public opinion on the performance and policies of the
Ronald Reagan administration
.
After becoming president on January 20, 1981,
[1]
Reagan
survived
an assassination attempt
.
CBS News
launched their opinion polls with their first one showing 67% of Americans approving the president's job performance.
[2]
Similarly, an
ABC News
poll showed Reagan's highest approval rating at 73%.
[3]
His ratings by CBS remained above 50% until the United States experienced
a recession and high unemployment in 1982
.
[2]
According to a
Gallup poll
, his lowest rating was 35% in early 1983.
[4]
[5]
Headed into
the 1984 presidential election
, Reagan's ratings by CBS recovered, reaching 58% and higher throughout the next two years.
[2]
However, in January 1987, Gallup revealed that his rating dropped to 49% as a result of the
Iran?Contra affair
. By December 1988, the near end of his presidency, Reagan's rating recovered again at 63%.
[4]
[6]
Retrospective polls continued to show Reagan among the greatest Presidents in modern history.
[3]
[4]
Retrospective approval ratings
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
February 5?11, 2018
|
72%
|
24%
|
4%
|
?
|
?
|
[7]
[8]
|
November 19?21, 2010
|
74%
|
24%
|
2%
|
[9]
[10]
[11]
|
June 1?4, 2006
|
71%
|
27%
|
2%
|
[9]
[12]
|
March 18?20, 2002
|
73%
|
22%
|
5%
|
[9]
|
ABC News
/
The Washington Post
|
All adults
|
July 26?30, 2001
|
66%
|
27%
|
7%
|
1,352
|
telephone
|
[13]
[3]
|
?
|
February 27, 2000
|
64%
|
26%
|
10%
|
?
|
?
|
[13]
[14]
|
Gallup
|
?
|
February 14?15, 2000
|
66%
|
32%
|
2%
|
?
|
?
|
[9]
|
February 8?9, 1999
|
71%
|
27%
|
2%
|
November 15?16, 1993
|
52%
|
45%
|
3%
|
June 4?8, 1992
|
50%
|
47%
|
3%
|
November 8?11, 1990
|
54%
|
44%
|
2%
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
Presidential approval ratings
[
edit
]
Gallup approval ratings during the Reagan presidency
disapprove
unsure
approve
January 1989
[
edit
]
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
1988
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
December 27?29, 1988
|
63%
|
29%
|
8%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
[4]
|
November 11?14, 1988
|
57%
|
35%
|
8%
|
October 21?24, 1988
|
51%
|
38%
|
11%
|
[17]
|
September 25?October 1, 1988
|
54%
|
37%
|
9%
|
August 19?22, 1988
|
53%
|
37%
|
10%
|
July 15?18, 1988
|
54%
|
36%
|
10%
|
July 1?7, 1988
|
51%
|
35%
|
14%
|
June 24?27, 1988
|
48%
|
40%
|
12%
|
June 10?13, 1988
|
51%
|
39%
|
10%
|
May 13?22, 1988
|
48%
|
43%
|
9%
|
CBS News
/
The New York Times
|
All adults
|
May 9?12, 1988
|
48%
|
39%
|
13%
|
1,382
|
telephone
|
[18]
|
Gallup
|
?
|
May 2?8, 1988
|
50%
|
38%
|
12%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
[4]
|
April 8?11, 1988
|
50%
|
39%
|
11%
|
March 8?12, 1988
|
51%
|
37%
|
12%
|
March 4?6, 1988
|
50%
|
42%
|
8%
|
January 22?25, 1988
|
49%
|
40%
|
11%
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
1987
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
December 4?7, 1987
|
49%
|
41%
|
10%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
[6]
|
October 23?26, 1987
|
51%
|
41%
|
8%
|
[17]
|
August 24?September 2, 1987
|
49%
|
42%
|
9%
|
August 7?10, 1987
|
45%
|
41%
|
14%
|
July 10?13, 1987
|
49%
|
43%
|
8%
|
June 8?14, 1987
|
53%
|
40%
|
7%
|
June 5?8, 1987
|
47%
|
44%
|
9%
|
April 10?13, 1987
|
48%
|
43%
|
9%
|
March 14?18, 1987
|
47%
|
44%
|
9%
|
March 6?9, 1987
|
43%
|
46%
|
11%
|
ABC News
/
The Washington Post
|
?
|
March 5?9, 1987
|
47%
|
52%
|
1%
|
?
|
?
|
[19]
|
CBS News
/
The New York Times
|
?
|
February 28?March 1, 1987
|
42%
|
46%
|
12%
|
?
|
?
|
[20]
|
Gallup
|
?
|
January 16?19, 1987
|
48%
|
43%
|
9%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
1986
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
December 5?8, 1986
|
48%
|
43%
|
9%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
December 4?5, 1986
|
47%
|
44%
|
9%
|
October 24?27, 1986
|
63%
|
29%
|
9%
|
September 13?17, 1986
|
63%
|
26%
|
11%
|
September 12?15, 1986
|
61%
|
25%
|
14%
|
August 8?11, 1986
|
61%
|
27%
|
12%
|
July 11?14, 1986
|
63%
|
28%
|
9%
|
June 9?16, 1986
|
64%
|
26%
|
10%
|
June 6?9, 1986
|
61%
|
29%
|
10%
|
May 16?19, 1986
|
68%
|
23%
|
9%
|
April 11?14, 1986
|
62%
|
29%
|
9%
|
March 4?10, 1986
|
63%
|
26%
|
11%
|
January 10?13, 1986
|
64%
|
27%
|
9%
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
1985
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
December 6?9, 1985
|
63%
|
29%
|
8%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
November 11?18, 1985
|
65%
|
24%
|
11%
|
November 1?4, 1985
|
62%
|
28%
|
10%
|
October 11?14, 1985
|
63%
|
29%
|
8%
|
September 13?16, 1985
|
60%
|
30%
|
10%
|
August 16?19, 1985
|
57%
|
32%
|
11%
|
August 13?15, 1985
|
65%
|
26%
|
9%
|
Newsweek
|
All adults
|
July 17?18, 1985
|
68%
|
?
|
?
|
753
|
telephone
|
[21]
|
Gallup
|
?
|
July 12?15, 1985
|
63%
|
28%
|
9%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
June 7?10, 1985
|
58%
|
32%
|
10%
|
May 17?20, 1985
|
55%
|
37%
|
8%
|
April 12?15, 1985
|
52%
|
37%
|
11%
|
March 8?11, 1985
|
56%
|
37%
|
7%
|
February 15?18, 1985
|
60%
|
31%
|
9%
|
January 25?28, 1985
|
64%
|
28%
|
8%
|
ABC News
/
The Washington Post
|
?
|
January 11?16, 1985
|
68%
|
28%
|
4%
|
?
|
?
|
[22]
|
Gallup
|
?
|
January 11?14, 1985
|
62%
|
29%
|
9%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
1984
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
December 7?10, 1984
|
59%
|
32%
|
9%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
November 30?December 3, 1984
|
62%
|
30%
|
8%
|
November 9?12, 1984
|
61%
|
31%
|
8%
|
October 26?29, 1984
|
58%
|
33%
|
9%
|
September 28?October 1, 1984
|
54%
|
35%
|
11%
|
September 21?24, 1984
|
57%
|
36%
|
7%
|
September 7?10, 1984
|
57%
|
36%
|
7%
|
August 10?13, 1984
|
54%
|
38%
|
8%
|
July 27?30, 1984
|
52%
|
37%
|
11%
|
July 13?16, 1984
|
55%
|
35%
|
10%
|
July 6?9, 1984
|
54%
|
35%
|
11%
|
June 29?July 2, 1984
|
53%
|
37%
|
10%
|
June 22?25, 1984
|
54%
|
36%
|
10%
|
June 6?8, 1984
|
55%
|
33%
|
12%
|
May 18?21, 1984
|
54%
|
38%
|
8%
|
May 3?5, 1984
|
52%
|
37%
|
11%
|
April 6?9, 1984
|
54%
|
36%
|
10%
|
March 16?19, 1984
|
54%
|
39%
|
7%
|
February 10?13, 1984
|
55%
|
36%
|
9%
|
January 27?30, 1984
|
55%
|
37%
|
8%
|
January 13?16, 1984
|
52%
|
38%
|
10%
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
1983
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
December 9?12, 1983
|
54%
|
38%
|
8%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
November 18?21, 1983
|
53%
|
37%
|
10%
|
October 21?24, 1983
|
49%
|
41%
|
10%
|
October 7?10, 1983
|
45%
|
44%
|
11%
|
September 16?19, 1983
|
47%
|
43%
|
10%
|
September 9?12, 1983
|
47%
|
42%
|
11%
|
August 19?22, 1983
|
43%
|
46%
|
11%
|
August 12?15, 1983
|
43%
|
45%
|
12%
|
August 5?8, 1983
|
44%
|
46%
|
10%
|
July 29?August 1, 1983
|
44%
|
42%
|
14%
|
July 22?25, 1983
|
42%
|
47%
|
11%
|
June 24?27, 1983
|
47%
|
44%
|
9%
|
June 10?13, 1983
|
43%
|
45%
|
12%
|
May 20?23, 1983
|
46%
|
43%
|
11%
|
May 13?16, 1983
|
43%
|
45%
|
12%
|
April 29?May 2, 1983
|
43%
|
46%
|
11%
|
April 15?18, 1983
|
41%
|
49%
|
10%
|
March 11?14, 1983
|
41%
|
49%
|
10%
|
February 25?28, 1983
|
40%
|
50%
|
10%
|
January 28?31, 1983
|
35%
|
56%
|
9%
|
January 21?24, 1983
|
37%
|
53%
|
10%
|
January 14?17, 1983
|
37%
|
54%
|
9%
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
1982
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
December 10?13, 1982
|
41%
|
50%
|
9%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
[23]
|
November 19?22, 1982
|
43%
|
47%
|
10%
|
[17]
|
November 5?8, 1982
|
43%
|
47%
|
10%
|
October 15?18, 1982
|
42%
|
48%
|
10%
|
September 17?20, 1982
|
42%
|
48%
|
10%
|
August 27?30, 1982
|
42%
|
46%
|
12%
|
August 13?16, 1982
|
41%
|
49%
|
10%
|
July 30?August 2, 1982
|
41%
|
47%
|
12%
|
July 23?26, 1982
|
42%
|
46%
|
12%
|
June 25?28, 1982
|
44%
|
46%
|
10%
|
June 11?14, 1982
|
45%
|
45%
|
10%
|
CBS News
/
The New York Times
|
All adults
|
May 19?23, 1982
|
43%
|
?
|
?
|
1,470
|
telephone
|
[24]
|
Gallup
|
?
|
May 14?17, 1982
|
45%
|
44%
|
11%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
April 30?May 3, 1982
|
44%
|
46%
|
10%
|
April 23?26, 1982
|
43%
|
47%
|
10%
|
April 2?5, 1982
|
45%
|
46%
|
9%
|
March 12?15, 1982
|
46%
|
45%
|
9%
|
February 5?8, 1982
|
47%
|
43%
|
10%
|
January 22?25, 1982
|
47%
|
42%
|
11%
|
January 8?11, 1982
|
49%
|
40%
|
11%
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
1981
[
edit
]
Pollster
|
Segment
|
Date(s)
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
Unsure/no data
|
Sample
|
Method
|
Source(s)
|
Gallup
|
?
|
December 11?14, 1981
|
49%
|
41%
|
10%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
November 20?23, 1981
|
54%
|
37%
|
9%
|
November 13?16, 1981
|
49%
|
40%
|
11%
|
October 30?November 2, 1981
|
53%
|
35%
|
12%
|
October 2?5, 1981
|
56%
|
35%
|
9%
|
September 18?21, 1981
|
52%
|
37%
|
11%
|
August 14?17, 1981
|
60%
|
29%
|
11%
|
July 31?August 3, 1981
|
60%
|
28%
|
12%
|
July 24?27, 1981
|
56%
|
30%
|
14%
|
July 17?20, 1981
|
60%
|
29%
|
11%
|
June 26?29, 1981
|
58%
|
30%
|
12%
|
June 19?22, 1981
|
59%
|
29%
|
12%
|
June 5?8, 1981
|
59%
|
28%
|
13%
|
May 8?11, 1981
|
68%
|
21%
|
11%
|
April 10?13, 1981
|
67%
|
19%
|
14%
|
April 3?6, 1981
|
67%
|
18%
|
15%
|
ABC News
/
The Washington Post
|
?
|
March 25?29, 1981
|
62%
|
23%
|
15%
|
?
|
?
|
[3]
[25]
|
?
|
March 31, 1981
|
73%
|
16%
|
11%
|
505
|
telephone
|
Gallup
|
?
|
March 13?16, 1981
|
60%
|
24%
|
16%
|
?
|
?
|
[17]
|
February 13?16, 1981
|
55%
|
18%
|
27%
|
January 30?February 2, 1981
|
51%
|
13%
|
36%
|
majority approve
plurality approve
majority disapprove
plurality disapprove
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Ritter, Dan (August 31, 2013).
"Presidential market scoreboard: Reagan to Obama"
.
USA Today
. Archived from
the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
Pinto, Jennifer (February 6, 2011).
"Ronald Reagan's Presidency: A Polling Retrospective"
.
CBS News
. Archived from
the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Sussman, Dalia (August 6, 2001).
"Poll: Reagan Approval Improves"
.
ABC News
. Archived from
the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
Newport, Frank; Jones, Jeffrey; Saad, Lydia (June 7, 2004).
"Ronald Reagan From the People's Perspective: A Gallup Poll Review"
.
Gallup
. Archived from
the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
Palmer, Ewan (September 21, 2022).
"Joe Biden's Approval Rating Now as Good as Ronald Reagan's at Same Stage"
.
Newsweek
. Archived from
the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Gao, George; Smith, Samantha (January 12, 2016).
"Presidential job approval ratings from Ike to Obama"
.
Pew Research Center
. Archived from
the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
Jones, Jeffrey (February 15, 2018).
"Obama's First Retrospective Job Approval Rating Is 63%"
.
Gallup
. Archived from
the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
Salvanto, Anthony; De Pinto, Jennifer (December 3, 2018).
"George H.W. Bush: The public's view of him during his presidency"
.
CBS News
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the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Jones, Jeffrey; Saad, Lydia (November 19?21, 2010).
"USA Today/Gallup Poll: November Wave 1"
(PDF)
. p. 3. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
Saad, Lydia (December 6, 2010).
"Kennedy Still Highest-Rated Modern President, Nixon Lowest"
.
Gallup
. Archived from
the original
on December 16, 2022
. Retrieved
December 16,
2022
.
- ^
Hudson, John (December 6, 2010).
"Who's the Most Popular Modern President?"
.
The Atlantic
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