Rosalynn Carter Rates High As First Lady

Home , Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosalynn Carter

The Harris Survey ISSN 0046-6875

& For Release Thursday, July 7, 1977

ROSALYNN CARTER RATES HIGH AS FIRST LADY

by Louis Harris The American people approve of the job Mrs. Rosalynncarter did during her recent trip to South America. They give her a 59-24 per cent positive rating for the mission, and an even higher 68-21 per cent approval of the way she is handling the role of First Lady. By any measure, Mrs. Carter is proving to be one of the most popular wives of a President in some time.

However, significant pluralities of the public have reservations about President Carter sending Mrs. Carter or other members of his family on official diplomatic missions:

-By a narrow 41-40 per cent margin, most people agree with the criticism that, "Mrs. Carter has no background in diplomacy and should not be discussing official U.S. policy with the heads of other nations ." --By 41-39 per cent, a plurality also feels "it is risky to send members of the President's family on diplomatic missions, because they are not qualified for the job."

These criticisms of Mrs. Carter's trip are outweighed by the positive aspects that seem clear to many people:

--A 74-10 per cent majority believes "she is capable and handles herself well as a goodwill ambassador for the U.S."

-A 72-10 per cent majority holds the view that "if Mrs. Carter or other members of the President's family gets information about problems with another country, that information is sure to reach the President and not get lost in the State Department."

-A somewhat less emphatic 57-27 per cent majority agrees that "because she knows so well the - thinking of President Carter, Mrs. Carter is a good choice to visit and talk with Latin American leaders."

It ie clear that the public feels entirely comfortable with Mrs. Carter traveling as an official goodwill ambassador for the ?resident. However most people would like to put some limits on her function abroad. Similarly, they would not want to see her entrusted with negotiating powers. But they do see her as a highly valuable emissary who might bring back information of real importance and transmit it directly to the President.

With Mrs. Carter taking an increasingly activist part in the White House, some people have begun to liken her to Eleanor Roosevelt during FDR's days in the White House. To find if there are serious objections to Mrs. Carter playing an active role, the Harris Survey asked a cross section of 1,947 adults nationwide if the public agreed or disagreed that "Mrs. Carter is trying to be the kind of First Lady Mrs. Roosevelt was and such a role is questionable for a First Lady.'' By 39-26 per cent, with 35 per cent not sure, a plurality rejects this idea. Thus, it can be at least tentatively assumed that most people do not hold serious objections to Mrs. Carter becoming an activist as was Mrs. Roosevelt.

Mrs. Carter's activities appear to be highly popular with vomen in the country. A substantial 62-21 per cent majority of women Rave her high marks on her trip to Latin America, compared with a lower 55-27 per cent among men. On her overall rating on the job she is doing as the First Lady, a 71-19 per cent majority of women approve, in contrast to a 66-23 per cent majority of men.

(over) TABLES The Harris Survey asked a cross section of 1,947 adults in in-person interviews nationwide between June 13 and 18:

"How would you rate Mrs. Rosalynn Carter on the job she did in her recent trip to South America, where she visited the leaders of a number of countries there--excellent, pretty good, only fair, or poor?"

RATING OF MRS. CARTER ON TRIP TO SOUTH A!!RICA

Positive X Negative X Not Sure X

TOTAL PUBLIC Men Women

"All in all, how would you rate the job Mrs. Carter has been doing as the Firat Lady-- excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?" JOB RATING OF MRS. CARTER AS FIRST LADY

Positive X Negative X Not Sure X

TOTAL PUBLIC Men Women

"Now let me read you some statements about Mrs. Carterand her trip, and about the use of the President's family for diplomatic missions. For each, tell me if you tend to agree or disagree."

STATEMENTS ABOUT CARTER FAMILY ON DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS

Agree X Disagree X Not Sure X POSITIVE Mrs. Carter is capable and handles herself well as a goodwill ambassador for the U.S.

If Mrs. Carter or any other member of the President's family gets information about problems with another country, that information is sure to reach the President and not get lost in the State Department. 72

Because she knows so well the thinking of President Carter, Mrs. Carter is a good choice to visit and talk to Latin American leaders. 57

NEGATIVE It is risky to send members of the President's family on diplomatic missions, because they are not qualified for the job.

Mrs. Carter has no background in diplomacy and should not be discussing official U.S. policy with the heads of other nations. 41 Mrs. Carter is trying to be the kind of First Lady Mrs. Rooserelt vas and such n role is questionable for a First Lady. 2 6