Historical Comparison
Obama joins the two most recent fellow Democrats (Clinton and Carter) and two recent Republicans (Reagan and Ford) in falling below 50% approval within the first term in office. His predecessor, Republican George W. Bush, enjoyed high approval ratings throughout his first years before they declined sharply in his second term. Historical Gallup Poll approval highs and lows for each President since 1937:
| Order | President | Highest Approval | Lowest Approval | High-Low | Highest Disapproval | Approval Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Obama | 69 (January 22, 2009) | 38 (August 22, 2011/August 27, 2011/August 29, 2011/October 06, 2011/October 13, 2011/October 17, 2011) | 31 | 55 (August 27, 2011/August 29, 2011) | 49 |
| 43 | Bush (G.W.) | 90 (September 21, 2001) | 25 (October 31, 2008) | 65 | 71 (October 31, 2008) | 49.4 |
| 42 | Clinton | 73 (December 19, 1998) | 37 (May 26, 1993) | 36 | 54 (September 6, 1994) | 55.1 |
| 41 | Bush (G.H.W.) | 89 (February 28, 1991) | 29 (July 31, 1992) | 60 | 60 (July 31, 1992) | 60.9 |
| 40 | Reagan | 68 (May 16, 1986) | 35 (January 28, 1983) | 33 | 56 (January 28, 1983) | 52.8 |
| 39 | Carter | 75 (March 18, 1977) | 28 (June 29, 1979) | 47 | 59 (June 29, 1979) | 45.5 |
| 38 | Ford | 71 (August 16, 1974) | 37 (March 28, 1975) | 34 | 46 (April 18, 1975/November 21, 1975) | 47.2 |
| 37 | Nixon | 67 (January 26, 1973) | 24 (August 2, 1974) | 43 | 66 (August 2, 1974) | 49.1 |
| 36 | Johnson | 79 (February 28, 1964) | 35 (August 7, 1968) | 44 | 52 (August 7, 1968/March 10, 1968) | 55.1 |
| 35 | Kennedy | 83 (March 8, 1962) | 56 (September 12, 1963) | 27 | 30 (September 12, 1963/November 08, 1963) | 70.1 |
| 34 | Eisenhower | 79 (December 14, 1956) | 48 (March 27, 1958) | 31 | 36 (March 27, 1958) | 65.0 |
| 33 | Truman | 87 (June 1, 1945) | 22 (February 9, 1952) | 65 | 67 (January 6, 1952) | 45.4 |
| 32 | Roosevelt (F.D.) | 84 (January 8, 1942) | 48 (August 18, 1939) | 36 | 46 (May 22, 1938/May 29, 1938/November 07, 1938) |
Read more about this topic: United States Presidential Approval Rating
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“When we reflect on our past sentiments and affections, our thought is a faithful mirror, and copies its objects truly; but the colours which it employs are faint and dull, in comparison of those in which our original perceptions were clothed.”
—David Hume (1711–1776)