The most popular and least popular U.S. President

[Reaganfan]

October/November 2001 - THE HIGHEST APPROVAL RATING FOR ANY PRESIDENT ON RECORD -
92% APPROVAL


February 2008 - THE LOWEST APPROVAL RATING FOR ANY PRESIDENT ON RECORD -
19% APPROVAL


President George W. Bush has seen it all...but it's like night and day.

[Iosif is a COTHO]

The high rating had nothing to do with his Presidency and the low rating had everything to do with it.

[tik 🪀✨]

I'm sure someday Bush will be sitting in a rocking chair on his front porch sipping lemonade and thinking to himself, "Garsh, 9-11 was some good'ems." Mango's right, Bush hardly deserves credit for having high approval ratings after a national tragedy.

[Franzl]

Well, basically any president would have been that popular after 9/11.

As far as the low rating is concerned...well...he is responsible for that.

[JSojourner]

I'm sure someday Bush will be sitting in a rocking chair on his front porch sipping lemonade and thinking to himself, "Garsh, 9-11 was some good'ems." Mango's right, Bush hardly deserves credit for having high approval ratings after a national tragedy.

I hope all he will be sipping is lemonade. 

[Daniel Adams]

Nitpick: Considering the 19% figure was by an ARG poll, I think it would be best to ignore it. (Even if you still trust ARG after this campaign season, this poll was preposterous. 43% of those polled were self-identified Democrats, with only 29% Republicans and 28% independents, hardly reliable.)

[Reaganfan]

Well, basically any president would have been that popular after 9/11.

As far as the low rating is concerned...well...he is responsible for that.

I saw a Presidential historian talking about it once...he mentioned the fact that Bush held the high approvals beyond a year and half after...and then got a second boost from Iraq in 2003...made him extremely popular from September 2001 to January 2004. Yes, 9/11/01 was the trigger...but his popularity peaked around November 2001, shortly before Thanksgiving...a good two months after the attacks, and his high popularity remained for all of 2002, and just about all of 2003.

[Keystone Phil]

Bush certainly hasn't been an excellent President. His second term has been a complete mess and a real let down. However, I do believe history will look back on this President as a good President - not great, not horrible.

[Reaganfan]

Bush certainly hasn't been an excellent President. His second term has been a complete mess and a real let down. However, I do believe history will look back on this President as a good President - not great, not horrible.

Yeah, the first term was exceptional. Bush's big problem was that at the time of his oath of hi second term...he was already unpopular.

I do expect Bush's approval rating to rise to about 45% by November, however.

[Flying Dog]

His approvals will stay at 30%-35% for the rest of his term. Thank God, the nightmare is almost at an end.

[Eraserhead]

Bush certainly hasn't been an excellent President. His second term has been a complete mess and a real let down. However, I do believe history will look back on this President as a good President - not great, not horrible.

Yeah, the first term was exceptional. Bush's big problem was that at the time of his oath of hi second term...he was already unpopular.

I do expect Bush's approval rating to rise to about 45% by November, however.

Based on what exactly?

[ottermax]

Bush certainly hasn't been an excellent President. His second term has been a complete mess and a real let down. However, I do believe history will look back on this President as a good President - not great, not horrible.

Yeah, the first term was exceptional. Bush's big problem was that at the time of his oath of hi second term...he was already unpopular.

I do expect Bush's approval rating to rise to about 45% by November, however.

Based on what exactly?

Maybe he thinks that the economy will miraculously rise from the ashes, Osama bin Laden is "found," and Iraq will be a wonderful happy place of peace!

[Хahar 🤔]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

[Ebowed]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

Wtf?  Are you a conspiracy theorist?

[Хahar 🤔]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

Wtf?  Are you a conspiracy theorist?

Nope.

But why would you approve of a President who let a bunch of planes fly into important buildings and kill a bunch of people? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

[Keystone Phil]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

Wtf?  Are you a conspiracy theorist?

Nope.

But why would you approve of a President who let a bunch of planes fly uinto important buildings and kill a bunch of people? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

"Let a bunch of plans fly into important buildings..."

Yeah, ok. You're intelligent.

[Хahar 🤔]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

Wtf?  Are you a conspiracy theorist?

Nope.

But why would you approve of a President who let a bunch of planes fly uinto important buildings and kill a bunch of people? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

"Let a bunch of plans fly into important buildings..."

Yeah, ok. You're intelligent.

You know, you could in fact answer my question instead of being dismissive.

[Keystone Phil]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

Wtf?  Are you a conspiracy theorist?

Nope.

But why would you approve of a President who let a bunch of planes fly uinto important buildings and kill a bunch of people? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

"Let a bunch of plans fly into important buildings..."

Yeah, ok. You're intelligent.

You know, you could in fact answer my question instead of being dismissive.

Uh, the very nature of the question is very, very flawed. That's why I don't answer.

[PBrunsel]

The most popular president while he was alive was Warren G. Harding of course. To the public the man walked on water. You also can't help but like a guy who as president walked around the White House grounds and shook hands with visitors. If ever I somehow end up in the president's chair I'm taking time out of my schedule to do that. Just think how it would make a person's day to meet the president.

I would say the most unpopular president while he was alive was Abraham Lincoln. Even after the war was won he was taking flack for wanting to be too kind to the South. That guy just couldn't catch a break!

[Хahar 🤔]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

Wtf?  Are you a conspiracy theorist?

Nope.

But why would you approve of a President who let a bunch of planes fly uinto important buildings and kill a bunch of people? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

"Let a bunch of plans fly into important buildings..."

Yeah, ok. You're intelligent.

You know, you could in fact answer my question instead of being dismissive.

Uh, the very nature of the question is very, very flawed. That's why I don't answer.

Explain.

[Keystone Phil]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

Wtf?  Are you a conspiracy theorist?

Nope.

But why would you approve of a President who let a bunch of planes fly uinto important buildings and kill a bunch of people? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

"Let a bunch of plans fly into important buildings..."

Yeah, ok. You're intelligent.

You know, you could in fact answer my question instead of being dismissive.

Uh, the very nature of the question is very, very flawed. That's why I don't answer.

Explain.

I don't believe the President "allowed" those things to happen.

[Хahar 🤔]

I still don't get why a President who let what happened happen could have such a high approval rating right after.

Wtf?  Are you a conspiracy theorist?

Nope.

But why would you approve of a President who let a bunch of planes fly uinto important buildings and kill a bunch of people? I don't understand the reasoning behind that.

"Let a bunch of plans fly into important buildings..."

Yeah, ok. You're intelligent.

You know, you could in fact answer my question instead of being dismissive.

Uh, the very nature of the question is very, very flawed. That's why I don't answer.

Explain.

I don't believe the President "allowed" those things to happen.

Of course not. But when bad things happen, it's usually "blame the politician".

What I mean is that if a disaster like that happened under somebody's watch, it would not cause me to support the person in charge if I had not supported him (or her) before.

[Keystone Phil]

What I mean is that if a disaster like that happened under somebody's watch, it would not cause me to support the person in charge if I had not supported him (or her) before.

The country rallies around its leaders at a time like that.

[jesmo]

Bush certainly hasn't been an excellent President. His second term has been a complete mess and a real let down. However, I do believe history will look back on this President as a good President - not great, not horrible.

No, you are incorrect. History will see him as one of the best Presidents ever.

[Хahar 🤔]

What I mean is that if a disaster like that happened under somebody's watch, it would not cause me to support the person in charge if I had not supported him (or her) before.

The country rallies around its leaders at a time like that.

I forgot that 8% of the population was informed and already supported Bush, 8% was informed and did not spport Bush, and 84% can't understand anything beyond sound bites.