Clinton's brief approval rating drop in early January 1996

[Middle-aged Europe]

According to Gallup...

Nov 5-7, 1995: 52%
Nov 16-17, 1995: 53%
Dec 14-17, 1995: 51%
Jan 4-6, 1996: 42%
Jan 11-14, 1996: 46%
Jan 25-28, 1996: 52%
Feb 22-24, 1996: 53%
Mar 7-9, 1996: 54%

What happened there?

[Tender Branson]

Government shutdown and Hillary releasing her book.

["'Oeps!' De blunders van Rick Perry Indicted"]

Government shutdown and Hillary releasing her book.

This, but Hillary's role in Whitewater/Travelgate was probably the bigger driver. Republicans were spreading rumors of her being indicted around this point.

The 42% seems something of a Gallup anomaly, as CBS/NYT and ABC/WAPO had Clinton in the low fifties that same week.

http://webapps.ropercenter.uconn.edu/CFIDE/roper/presidential/webroot/presidential_rating_detail.cfm?allRate=True&presidentName=Clinton#.TwihWaVSRvY