Reagan Expected to Be Better President Than Predecessors

The Harris Survey For Release: Monday AM, January 19th, 1981 1981 #6 ISSN 0273-1037

REAGAN EXPECTED TO BE BETTER PRESIDENT THAN PREDECESSORS

By Louis Harris

By 55-37 percent, a majority of Americans feels that Ronald Reagan will turn out to be a better president than most of the eight occupants of the White House before him. On the eve of his inaugural, people clearly have built up high hopes for their new president.

In the latest Harris Survey, a nationwide cross secLion of 1,499 adults was asked to assess the last eight presidents on nine key dimensions. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt ranked at the top on most of the elements tested: --On which president was best on domestic affairs, Roosevelt came out first, with 24 percent, followed by Kennedy at 23 percent. In 1976, Roosevelt also led Kennedy, 29 percent to 25 percent. In the latest results, Lyndon Johnson and Harry Truman, two other Democratic presidents, tied for third place with 10 percent each.

--On which president was best on foreign affairs, Richard Nixon finished on top as the choice of 30 percent, followed by Kennedy at 20 percent, then Roosevelt and Trumen at 11 percent, and Dwight Eisenhower at 10 percent. In 1972 and again in 1976, Nixon also finished in first place on foreign policy.

--On which president was best able to get things done, Roosevelt came out on top with 27 percent, followed by Kennedy at 25 percent, and Truman at 14 percent.

--On which president could be trusted most in a crisis, Kennedy was first, singled out by 30 percent, followed by Truman with 18 percent, and then Roosevelt and Eisenhower tied at 15 percent.

--On which president most inspired confidence, Kennedy finished ahead of the other seven with 38 percent, followed by Roosevelt at 24 percent, Eisenhower at 13 percent, and Truman at 9 percent. In 1976, Kennedy just edged out Roosevelt by 35-33 percent, followed by Eisenhower and Truman.

--On which president set the highest moral standards, Kennedy once again emerged On top, singled aut by 23 percent, followed by Eisenhower at 17 percent. Truman at 16 percent, Jimmy Carter at 13 ~ercent, Roosevelt at 11 percent, and Gerald Ford at 8 percent.

--On which president was the most appealing personally, Kennedy finished far ahead, cited by 63 percent, followed by Roosevelt at 11 percent, and Eisenhower at 8 percent.

The Harris Survey also asked Americans to assess the past eight presidents on two negative dimensions:

--On which president set the lowest moral standards, Nixon was singled out by 60 percent, followed by Johnson and Carter at 7 percent each and Kennedy at 5 percent. In 1976, 63 percent thought Nixon had set the lowest moral standards.

. . --On which president was least able to get things done Carter walked off w~th that dub~ous honor, singled out by 44 percent, followed bv Ford at 13 percent, Nixon at 12 percent, and Johnson at 9 percent. .

(over) THE HARRIS SURVEY January 19th, 1981

-2

These latest survey results show that Kennedy, the one martyred president of the eight, still is widely respected and has a specJa: place among modern chief executives. Roosevelt also ranks particularly well, despite the fact that two ful: generations have passed since he was in office.

But outgoing President Carter does not fare very well. Only 2 percent rate him as best on domestic affairs, 5 percent on fore~gn policy, 2 percent on most inspiring confidence, 4 percent as the most appealing personally, 13 percent as having set the hiqhest moral standards. Also, 7 percent cite Carter as having set the lowest moral standards, and 44 percent as having been the president least able to get things done.

Nixon maintains his reputatlcn for havinc been best on foreign policy, but also is given a wlde lead as having set the lowest mora~ standards. Only 1 percent believe he most inspired confldence.

When asked how Reagan compares with these past eight presidents, 11 percent think he will be one of the best presidents, 44 percent say he'll be hetter than most, 2R percent don't think he'll be as good as most, and 9 percent expect he'll be worse than the presidents before him. On balance, a 55-37 percent majority expects Reacan to do well in office. Thus begins the Reagan honeymGon ceriod.

TAB L E S

Between January 2nd and 7th, the Harris Survey asked a cross section of 1,499 adults nationwide by telephone: "I'd llke to ask you about the last eight presidents of the Dnlted States. Please keep in mind Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter. If you had to choose one, which president do you thlnk (READ EACH ITEM)?"

PAST pr~SIDE~~S ON SPECIFICS

Was best on domestic affairs ,Jan. 1981 Feb. 1976 Dec. 1972 --%-- ---%- %

Franklin D. Roosevelt 24 2° 24 .tohn Kennedy 23 25 29 Lyndon Johnson 10 B 8 Harry Tru:nan 10 13 5

Dwi~ht Fisenho~er 9 8 9 Gerald Ford 5 1 x Richard Nixon 5 2 13 Jimmy Carter 2 X *

Not sure 12 12 12 Was best in foreign affairs Jan. 19d1 Feb. 1976 Dec. 1972 --%- % --T--

Richard Nixon 30 22 34 John Kennedy 20 2J 26 Franklin D. Roosevelt 11 19 12 Harry Truman 11 10 6 Dwight Eisenhower 10 14 11 Jimmy Carter 5 X X Gerald Ford 3 1 X Lyndon Johnson 2 2 2 Not sure 8 l.l 9 THE HARRIS SURVEY January 19th, 1981

-3

Was best able to get things done (NEW)

Jan. 1981 %

Franklin D. Roosevelt 27 John Kennedy 25 Harry Truman 14 Dwight Eisenhower 8 Richard Nixon 8

Lyndon Johnson 7 Gerald Ford 3 Jimmy Carter 2 Not sure 6

Could be trusted most in a crisis (NEW)

Jan. 1981 %

John Kennedy 30 Harry Truman 18 Franklin D. Roosevelt 15 Dwight Eisenhower 15

Gerald Ford 6

Jimmy Carter 6 Richard Nixon 3 Lyndon Johnson 2 Not sure 5

Most inspired confidence

Jan. 1981 Feb. 1976 Dec. 1972 % % %

John Kennedy 38 35 38 Franklin D. Roosevelt 24 33 26 Dwight Eisenhower 13 15 15 Harry Truman 9 11 5 Gerald Ford 5 1 X Lyndon Johnson 2 1 2

Jimmy Carter 2 X X Richard Nixon 1 1 11 Not sure 6 3 3

con tin u e d THE HARRIS SURVEY January 19th, 1981

-4

Set highest moral sta~dards

Jan. 1981 Feb. 1976 Dec. 1972 % % %

John Kennedy 23 21 X

Dwight Eisenhower 17 24 X

Harry Truman 16 21 X

Jimmy Carter 13 X X

Franklin D. Roosevelt 11 11 X

Gerald Ford 8 5 X Lyndon Johnson 2 2 X

Richard ~ixon 2 1 X Not sure 8 15 X

Was the most appealing personally

Jan. 1981 Feb. 1976 --_._--Dec. 1972 % % %

John Fennedy 63 67 66

Franklin D. Roosevelt 11 12 9 Dwight Eisenhower 8 9 10

Gerald Ford 5 1 X

Jimmy Carter 4 x X

Harry Truman 4 4 3

Richard !-Jixon 3 7 Lyndon Johnson 1 2

Not sure 1 3

Set the lowest moral standards

Jan. 1981 Feb.---1-- 1976 Dec. 1972 % %

Richard Nixon 60 63 X Lyndon Johnson 7 5 X

Jimmy Carter 7 X X

John Kennedy 5 X

Gerald Ford 3 2 X Franklin D. Roosevelt 3 X

Harry Truman 2 2 X

Dwight Eisenhower 2 1 X

Not sure 12 17 X * less than 0.5 percent X not asked

cOn tin u e d THE HARRIS SURVEY January 19th, 1981

-5 was least able to get things done (NE\~) Jan. 1981 - %

Jimmy Carter 44 Gerald ForJ 13 Richard Nixon 12 Lyndon Johnson 9 Dwight Eisenhower 5 John Kennedy 4 Harry Truman 1 Franklin D. Roosevelt 1 Not sure 11

"Compared with these past eight presidents, do you feel Ronald Reagan will turn out to be one of the very best, better than most, not as good as most, or definitely worse than most of them?"

EXPECTATIONS FOR REAGAN COMPARED TO PAST EIGHT PRESIDENTS

One of the very best 11

Better than most 44

Not as good as most 28

Definitely worse than most 9

Not sure 8

Louis Harris and Associates, Inc. subscribes to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. The principles are that all reports of survey findings of member organizations, prepared specifically for public release, will include reference to the following: sponsorship of the survey; dates of interviewing; method of obtaining the interviews; population that was sampled; size of the sample; size and description of the sub-sample, if the survey report relies primarily on less than the total sample; complete wording of questions upon which the release is based; and, the percentages upon which conclusions are based.

All of this information is provided in this release.

812101