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Survey Reports
February 6, 1998
POPULAR POLICIES AND UNPOPULAR PRESS LIFT CLINTON RATINGS
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
JANUARY 1998 RE-INTERVIEW SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
JAN 30 - FEB 2, 1998
N=844
Hello, I am _____ calling for Princeton Survey Research Associates in
Princeton, New Jersey. A few weeks ago we were conducting a telephone opinion
survey for leading newspapers and TV stations around the country, and we spoke
with a (INSERT SEX AND AGE) in your household. I'd like to ask (HIM/HER) a
few additional questions to follow up on that previous interview. Is (HE/SHE)
available?
IF PEW RESPONDENT DOES NOT ANSWER THE PHONE, USE THE FOLLOWING INTRODUCTION
WHEN HE OR SHE DOES GET ON THE LINE:
Hello, I am _____ calling for Princeton Survey Research Associates in
Princeton, New Jersey. A few weeks ago you participated in a telephone
opinion survey we were conducting for leading newspapers and TV stations
around the country. I'd like to ask you a few additional questions to follow
up on that previous interview.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS...
Q.1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job
as President? [IF DK ENTER AS DK. IF DEPENDS PROBE ONCE WITH: Overall
do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job
as President? IF STILL DEPENDS ENTER AS DK]
Approve Disapprove Don't Know
Early Feb, 1998 71 26 3=100
January, 1998 61 30 9=100
November, 1997 58 31 11=100
September, 1997 58 29 13=100
August, 1997 59 32 9=100
June, 1997 54 34 12=100
May, 1997 57 34 9=100
April, 1997 55 34 11=100
February, 1997 60 32 8=100
Early Feb, 1997 57 30 13=100
January, 1997 59 31 10=100
November, 1996 57 34 9=100
July, 1996 54 38 8=100
June, 1996 54 38 8=100
April, 1996 53 39 8=100
March, 1996 55 38 7=100
February, 1996 51 39 10=100
January, 1996 50 43 7=100
October, 1995 48 42 10=100
September, 1995 45 42 13=100
August, 1995 44 44 12=100
June, 1995 50 40 10=100
April, 1995 47 43 10=100
March, 1995 44 44 12=100
February, 1995 44 44 12=100
December, 1994 41 47 12=100
November, 1994 48 40 12=100
October, 1994 41 47 12=100
Early Oct, 1994 38 47 15=100
September, 1994 41 52 7=100
July, 1994 45 46 9=100
June, 1994 42 44 14=100
May, 1994 46 42 12=100
March, 1994 45 42 13=100
January, 1994 51 35 14=100
Early Jan, 1994 48 35 17=100
December, 1993 48 36 16=100
October, 1993 44 42 14=100
September, 1993 49 35 16=100
Early Sept, 1993 43 43 14=100
August, 1993 39 46 15=100
May, 1993 39 43 18=100
Early May, 1993 45 37 18=100
April, 1993 49 29 22=100
February, 1993 56 25 19=100
IF RESPONDENT GIVES A DIFFERENT ANSWER THAN THEY DID IN JAN. NII, ASK:
Q.1a When we interviewed you earlier, you said you (INSERT RESPONSE FROM
PREVIOUS SURVEY: approved/disapproved) of the way Bill Clinton is
handling his job. What made you change your mind? (open-end)
BASED ON THOSE WHO "APPROVED" IN CURRENT POLL, BUT DID NOT IN PREVIOUS
POLL:[N=109]
29 Domestic issues/Policy (Net)
20 The State of the Union address
4 Economy is better
2 Education issues
2 Social Security issue
2 Rate of unemployment
1 Balanced budget
13 Doing his job despite all the scandal/Good job handling scandal
11 News Coverage (Net)
8 Paying more attention to what's going on/I'm thinking about
him more
4 News on TV
2 All the media/Press coverage over past week
7 The way he's running the country/Doing his job as president
6 International issues/Policy (Net)
4 Policy toward Iraq
1 U.S. military presence in Middle East/UN
2 Other international issues/policy mentions
6 Doing his job as well as expected/Current ratings
5 Doesn't deserve attacks/Unfair attacks/Not to blame
4 Everything is going OK/Country is going well
3 His policies/Don't like personal life but like policies
(unspecified)
3 Same as/No worse than any other politician
3 All the stuff going on with him
2 Good job handling country
2 Trying to help people/His programs to help
1 Need to know all the facts
1 What is the truth/Telling the truth/
1 Mixed/Feel both ways
2 Other miscellaneous mentions
20 Don't know/Refused/No answer
Q.2Q. All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are
going in this country today?
Dis-
Satisfied satisfied No Opinion
Early February, 1998 59 37 4=100
January, 1998 46 50 4=100
August, 1997 49 46 5=100
January, 1997 38 58 4=100
July, 1996 29 67 4=100
March, 1996 28 70 2=100
October, 1995 23 73 4=100
June, 1995 25 73 2=100
April, 1995 23 74 3=100
July, 1994 24 73 3=100
March, 1994 24 71 5=100
October, 1993 22 73 5=100
September, 1993 20 75 4=100
May, 1993 22 71 7=100
January, 1993 39 50 11=100
January, 1992 28 68 4=100
November, 1991 34 61 5=100
Late February, 1991 (Gallup) 66 31 3=100
August, 1990 47 48 5=100
May, 1990 41 54 5=100
January, 1989 45 50 5=100
September, 1988 50 45 5=100
May, 1988 41 54 5=100
January, 1988 39 55 6=100
Q.3 What is the FIRST news story that comes to mind when you think about
what's been in the news on television, radio or in the newspapers
lately. (OPEN-END. ACCEPT MULTIPLES RESPONSES, BUT DO NOT PROBE. IF
RESPONDENT OFFERS A GENERAL CATEGORY OF NEWS SUCH AS "CLINTON" OR "CRIME"
OR "THE ECONOMY" PROBE: Can you name a SPECIFIC news story about that.)
75 Clinton Scandal (NET)
49 Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky sex scandal/White House
intern
12 Bill Clinton's personal affairs (unspecified)
12 Bill Clinton/The President and all of his problems
1 Paula Jones/Sexual harassment suit against Bill
Clinton
1 Clinton crisis/White House crisis/President's crisis
1 Washington scandal
10 Iraq/Situation in Iraq/Saddam Hussein/War with Iraq
(unspecified)
5 Crime (NET)
2 Crime (unspecified)
1 Murders (unspecified)
1 Kidnapings/Missing children/Abductions
1 Ted Kaczynski/Unabomber/Unabomber trial
1 Other crime mentions
1 State of the Union address/Clinton speech
1 Other Washington mentions
1 Bad weather/Storms/Snow/Ice storms
1 El Nino/Effects of El Nino on weather
1 Iran
1 Other Middle East mentions
5 Don't know/Refused/No answer
Q.4 Now I'd like your opinion of some organizations. As I read from a list,
please tell me which category best describes your overall opinion of
what I name. (First), would you say your overall opinion of... (INSERT
ITEM; ROTATE) is very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly UNfavorable,
or very unfavorable? (INTERVIEWERS: PROBE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
"NEVER HEARD OF" AND "CAN'T RATE")
Very Mostly Mostly Very Never
Favor- Favor- Unfavor- Unfavor- Heard Can't
able able able able Of Rate
a. Network television news 16 60 17 5 * 2=100
February, 1997 15 58 18 5 * 4=100
April, 1996 21 58 13 4 0 4=100
January, 1996 25 58 11 4 * 2=100
June, 1995 16 51 21 9 * 3=100
July, 1994 17 52 22 7 * 2=100
May, 1993 23 58 12 3 0 4=100
January, 1992 27 55 11 2 0 5=100
November, 1991 24 51 16 5 0 4=100
March, 1991 40 51 5 2 0 2=100
May, 1990 22 60 12 3 * 3=100
August, 1989 28 54 11 3 4=100
February, 1989 21 61 12 3 3=100
August, 1988 29 52 9 5 5=100
May, 1988 20 58 14 4 4=100
January 27, 1988 12 69 13 3 3=100
January 7-18, 1988 18 60 14 4 4=100
October, 1987 19 62 10 3 6=100
May, 1987 21 63 11 3 2=100
January, 1987 19 55 16 6 4=100
July, 1986 30 53 10 4 3=100
August, 1985 30 51 8 2 7=100
June, 1985 25 59 8 2 6=100
b. Local television news 19 62 12 4 0 3=100
February, 1997 25 56 12 3 0 4=100
April, 1996 26 58 10 3 * 3=100
January, 1996 28 56 10 4 * 2=100
March, 1991 37 52 6 2 * 3=100
August, 1989 27 53 11 4 5=100
July, 1985 27 57 9 2 5=100
c. Large nationally influential
newspapers such as the New
York Times and the
Washington Post 9 38 12 6 1 34=100
February, 1997 8 33 13 7 2 37=100
January, 1992 16 37 9 4 0 34=100
July, 1985 12 36 8 3 1 40=100
d. The daily newspaper you
are most familiar with 18 56 13 5 * 8=100
February, 1997 21 53 15 4 0 7=100
April, 1996 24 56 12 4 0 4=100
January, 1996 27 52 11 5 * 5=100
June, 1995 22 52 14 7 1 4=100
July, 1994 23 57 13 5 * 2=100
May, 1993 26 55 10 4 0 5=100
January, 1992 27 51 13 5 0 4=100
November, 1991 24 56 11 5 0 4=100
March, 1991 30 55 7 3 * 5=100
May, 1990 22 56 12 5 * 5=100
August, 1989 25 52 12 5 6=100
February, 1989 22 56 13 4 5=100
August, 1988 30 48 10 5 7=100
May, 1988 19 59 13 4 5=100
January 27, 1988 19 62 11 3 5=100
January 7-18, 1988 21 59 12 4 4=100
October, 1987 21 58 9 4 8=100
May, 1987 22 59 12 3 4=100
January, 1987 19 57 13 6 5=100
July, 1986 28 51 11 6 4=100
August, 1985 25 52 10 5 8=100
June, 1985 25 56 8 3 8=100
e. Cable news networks such
as CNN and MSNBC 26 45 9 3 1 16=100
ON ANOTHER SUBJECT...
Q.5 Which of these best describes you... (READ)
39 I like Bill Clinton personally and I like his policies, OR
30 I don't like Bill Clinton personally but I like his policies, OR
23 I don't like Bill Clinton personally and I don't like his policies
3 (DO NOT READ) I like Bill Clinton personally but I don't like his
policies
5 DK/Refused
100
NOW A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEWS MEDIA...
Q.6 Which of the following two statements about the news media do you agree
with more...(READ)
Jan Feb March July
1998 1997 1995 1994
29 The news media helps society
to solve its problems 31 36 33 25
OR
65 The news media gets in the way
of society solving its problems 63 54 57 71
6 Don't know/Refused 6 10 10 4
100 100 100 100 100
Q.7 Some people think that by criticizing leaders, news organizations keep
political leaders from doing their job. Others think that such
criticism is worth it because it keeps political leaders from doing
things that should not be done. Which position is closer to your
opinion ?
Late Early
Feb Jan Jan Aug Dec June
1997 1994 1994 1989 1986 1985
Criticism by the press keeps
political leaders from doing
39 their job 32 24 18 23 26 17
Criticism keeps leaders from doing
55 things that shouldn't be done 56 66 69 68 60 67
6 Don't know/Refused 12 10 13 9 14 16
100 100 100 100 100 100 100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY: [N=410]
Q.8F1 Do you think that press coverage of the personal and ethical BEHAVIOR of
political leaders is excessive or not?
Feb Jan Aug
1997 1994 1989
66 Yes, coverage is excessive 65 59 52
29 No, it is not excessive 30 38 43
5 Don't know/Refused 5 3 5
100 100 100 100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY: [N=434]
Q.9F2 In general, do you think news organizations get the facts straight, or
do you think that their stories and reports are often inaccurate?
Feb Jan Aug Aug May Jan June
1997 1992 1989 1988 1988 1988 1985
34 Get facts straight 37 49 54 40 48 44 55
63 Stories often inaccurate 56 44 44 50 43 48 34
3 Don't know/Refused 7 7 2 10 9 8 11
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.10 In your opinion, are the news organizations you are familiar with being
fair or unfair to the Clinton administration?
Sept May Aug June Feb
1994 1994 1993 1993 1993
49 Fair 67 52 66 51 72
44 Unfair 26 36 21 43 17
7 DK/Refused 7 12 13 6 11
100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.11 Now I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations
this past month. As I read each item, tell me if you happened to follow
this news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not at
all closely? [READ LIST DO NOT ROTATE]
Very Fairly Not too Not at all (VOL)
Closely Closely Closely Closely DK
a. Clinton's proposal to deal with the
problem with Social Security 24 38 26 12 *=100
January, 1998 18 27 29 25 1=100
February, 1997 23 26 22 28 1=100
January, 1997 29 35 22 13 1=100
b. The conflict in Iraq over UN
weapons inspectors and U.S. threats
to retaliate with air strikes 36 40 16 8 *=100
January, 1998 32 35 18 15 *=100
November, 1997 44 32 10 13 1=100
c. Allegations that President Clinton
had an affair with former White
House intern, Monica Lewinsky 34 42 17 7 0=100
Q.12 Thinking specifically about these allegations against President Clinton,
how important an issue do you think this whole situation is to the
nation... of great importance, of some importance, or of very little
importance?
--- CBS News ---
Jan 26th Jan 24-25
1998 1998
25 Great importance 39 40
27 Some importance 28 21
45 Very little importance 28 35
1 None (VOL) 2 3
2 DK/Refused 3 1
100 100 100
(N=609) (N=943)
Q.13 How good a job are news organizations doing at reporting about the
allegations against President Clinton... an excellent job, a good job,
only a fair job or a poor job?
10 Excellent
36 Good
32 Only fair
19 Poor
3 DK/Refused GO TO Q.15
100
Q.14 Why do you think they are doing a (INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q.13) job?
(Open-end)
BASED ON THOSE WHO SAID "EXCELLENT/VERY GOOD" [N=376]
Positive responses
15 Reporting the facts/Uncovering the facts
13 Additional/More information/They dig for information
13 Close coverage/Following case real close/Constant coverage
12 Up-to-date reporting/Keeping us up-to-date/On top of story
11 Keeping the public informed/Getting information out to public
11 Non biased news reporting/Hearing both sides/Not taking
sides/Being fair
9 Their job to dig/Investigate politicians/President
7 Trying to do their job/Report news as they see it
6 We need to know this/Important/Otherwise we would not know
4 Are trying hard despite rumors/Doing a good job
3 Giving people what they want to hear/See
1 Makes us think/Voice opinions
1 Other positive mentions
1 Mixed/Some good and bad
Negative responses
2 None of their business/Who cares what he does with his personal
life/Leave his personal life alone/It's between Bill and Hillary
Clinton/Nosy/Stay out of personal life
2 Too much coverage/Excessive/Over-reporting/24-hours a day
2 Lack of facts/Not verifying facts/Reporting without
proof/Hearsay/Rumors/Accusations/Half-truths/Unsubstantiated
1 Trying to exploit Bill Clinton/Get him out of office/Impeach him
1 Too much sensationalism/Blow out of proportion/Over-
Emphasizing/Overkill
1 Biased reporting/Using personal opinions/One-sided reporting
10 Don't know/Refused/No answer
BASED ON THOSE WHO SAID "FAIR/POOR" [N=440]
Negative responses
33 Lack of facts/Not verifying facts/Reporting without
proof/Hearsay/Rumors/Accusations/Half-truths/Unsubstantiated
17 Too much sensationalism/Blow out of proportion/Over-Emphasizing/Overkill
15 Biased reporting/Using personal opinions/One-sided reporting
14 None of their business/Who cares what he does with his personal
life/Leave his personal life alone/It's between Bill and Hillary
Clinton/Nosy/Stay out of personal life
9 Too much coverage/Excessive/Over-reporting/24-hours a day
8 Quick to print/Broadcast
8 More important topics to cover/Not what people really care about
6 Trying to exploit Bill Clinton/Get him out of office/Impeach him
6 Information is not complete/Not in-depth
5 Trying to create news/Not report on it
3 Tired of story/It's tiresome
2 It's not important to country
2 Liberal biased
1 Mixed/some good and bad
6 Don't know/Refused/No answer
Q.15 How would rate the job the press is doing (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE)... would
you say they are doing an excellent job, a good job, only a fair job, or
a poor job? How about...
Only DK/
Excellent Good Fair Poor Ref.
a. Carefully checking facts before reporting stories 6 25 36 29 4=100
b. Being objective about whether or not President
Clinton is guilty of any of these allegations 7 29 37 23 4=100
c. Providing you with the information you need
to make up your own mind about these allegations 10 35 31 21 3=100
d. Providing the right amount of coverage about
this story 12 31 30 25 2=100
Q.16 Besides the news coverage, do you think there has been too much, too
little or the right amount of DISCUSSION about this issue by
commentators and analysts on television and radio?
80 Too much
4 Too little
14 Right amount
2 DK/Refused
100
Q.17 In your opinion, is it the job of the news media to provide the public
with information about whether or not President Clinton has engaged in
extra-marital affairs, or not?
44 Yes, it's their job
52 No, it's not their job
2 Depends (VOL)
2 DK/Refused
100
Q.18 In your opinion, is it the job of the news media to provide the public
with information about whether or not the President has lied under oath
about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky or encouraged others to lie
about this, or not?
68 Yes, it's their job
27 No, it's not their job
2 Depends (VOL)
3 DK/Refused
100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY: [N=410]
Q.19F1 Have these allegations against Bill Clinton reduced your
confidence in his leadership abilities, or not?
27 Yes
70 No
3 DK/Refused
100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY: [N=434]
Q.20F2 Have these allegations against Bill Clinton reduced your respect
for him as a person, or not?
35 Yes
61 No
4 DK/Refused
100
ASK ALL:
Q.21 Now I'm going to describe some of the allegations being made in this
matter. As I read each one, please say whether you think it is
definitely true, probably true, probably not true, or definitely not
true. (First,...) (Next,...)
Definitely Probably Probably Definitely DK/
True True Not True Not True Ref
a. The allegation that Bill
Clinton had sexual relations
with Monica Lewinsky 9 43 29 10 9=100
b. The allegation that Bill Clinton
lied under oath about having an
affair with Monica Lewinsky 9 40 31 11 9=100
Gallup: Jan 28, 1998 9 37 31 13 10=100
Gallup: Jan 25-26, 1998 18 38 23 13 8=100
Gallup: Jan 23-24, 1998 15 40 26 10 9=100
Gallup: Jan 21, 1998 8 41 28 15 8=100
c. The allegation that Bill Clinton
participated in an effort to
obstruct justice by getting
Monica Lewinsky to lie under oath
about the affair 8 32 36 16 8=100
Gallup: Jan 28, 1998 6 30 36 16 12=100
Gallup: Jan 25-26, 1998 14 34 28 16 8=100
Gallup: Jan 23-24, 1998 11 35 31 14 9=100
Gallup: Jan 21, 1998 6 33 33 18 10=100
Q.22 If it turns out that President Clinton had a sexual relationship with
Monica Lewinsky, do you think that he should be impeached and removed
from office, or not?
21 Yes, should be impeached
76 No, should not
3 DK/Refused
100
Q.23 If it turns out that President Clinton lied under oath about having a
sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, do you think that he should be
impeached and removed from office, or not?
50 Yes, should be impeached
46 No, should not
4 DK/Refused
100
Q.24 If it turns out that President Clinton encouraged Monica Lewinsky to lie
under oath about the nature of their relationship, do you think that he
should be impeached and removed from office, or not?
48 Yes, should be impeached
47 No, should not
5 DK/Refused
100
Q.25 Do you think most REPORTERS believe Bill Clinton had a sexual
relationship with Monica Lewinsky, or not?
73 Yes
16 No
11 DK/Refused
100
Q.26 Do you think most reporters believe Bill Clinton is guilty of lying
under oath about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, or not?
69 Yes
19 No
12 DK/Refused
100
Q.27 Now I'm going to read a list of details that have been reported about
this controversy. Please tell me whether you consider each to be a FACT
which has been proven... OR an ACCUSATION which may or may not be true.
First, reports that (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE, ALWAYS READING ITEM "a"
FIRST)... is this a fact or simply an accusation? How about reports
that...
Fact Accusation DK
a. President Clinton personally
knew Monica Lewinsky 78 19 3=100
b. President Clinton had a sexual
relationship with Monica Lewinsky 14 82 4=100
c. President Clinton encouraged
Monica Lewinsky to lie under
oath about the affair 11 85 4=100
d. President Clinton gave
Monica Lewinsky gifts 35 59 6=100
e. There are tape recordings
of Monica Lewinsky talking to her
friend Linda Tripp about her
relationship with the President 49 45 6=100
f. There is at least one eyewitness
who saw the President and
Monica Lewinsky in a compromising position 17 78 5=100
g. President Clinton recently admitted
that he HAD an affair
with a woman named Gennifer
Flowers when he was Governor
of Arkansas 61 28 11=100
h. There are tape recordings of
President Clinton leaving
messages on Monica Lewinsky's
answering machine 23 70 7=100
Q.28 Finally, looking forward, what do you think would be the best thing for
the nation... (READ)?
43 To carry on the investigation into the allegations about President
Clinton we have been discussing
OR
55 To drop the matter
2 DK/Refused (VOL)
100
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