PollingReport.com

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Clinton: Scandals I ] [ Clinton: Scandals II ] [ Clinton: Scandals III ] [ Clinton: Scandals IV ]

President Clinton: Scandals and Investigations, continued
All data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.

Impeachment polls conducted in 1999:

ABC News (survey completed 2/12)
ABC News/Washington Post (1/10)
CBS News (2/12)
CBS News/New York Times (2/1)
CNN/Time (1/21)
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics (1/28)
Gallup/CNN/USA Today (2/13)
Harris (1/12)
Los Angeles Times (2/12)
Marist College (1/26)
NBC News (1/12)
NBC News/Wall Street Journal (1/18)
Newsweek (2/12)
Pew (1/25)
Zogby (1/21)

Impeachment polls conducted November-December
Lewinsky scandal polls conducted through October

See Congress for ratings of Congress and congressional leaders.

Other Scandals:
Paula Jones
Whitewater
Chinagate

 

ABC News Poll. February 12, 1999. N=526 adults nationwide.

.
"As you may know, the Senate today found Clinton not guilty of the impeachment charges against him, meaning he can remain in office. Do you approve or disapprove of the Senate vote finding Clinton not guilty of the impeachment charges?"
%
Approve 60
Disapprove 39
No opinion 1

.
"Do you think the Senate should censure or officially reprimand Clinton for his actions in the Monica Lewinsky matter, or should it drop the case without censuring Clinton?"
%
Censure Clinton 44
Drop the case 54
No opinion 2

.
"Clinton still could face criminal charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. That could happen while he's still in office or after he leaves office. Do you think Clinton should or should not face criminal charges at some point?" If "Yes": "Should he face criminal charges while he's still in office or after he leaves office?"
%
Should -- while in office 20
Should -- after leaving office 29
Should not 46
No opinion 5

.
"Regardless of the Senate's verdict, do you think the charges against Clinton were serious enough for him to be impeached and put on trial, or would you say the charges were not serious enough and the impeachment and trial never should have happened?"
%
Serious enough 43
Not serious enough 56

.
"Do you think the Senate voted today on the basis of the facts of the case or on the basis of partisan politics?"
%
Facts of the case 23
Partisan politics 71
No opinion 6

.
"Looking back, did Clinton's impeachment and trial strengthen or weaken your faith in the government's ability to handle charges of lawbreaking by a president?"
%
Strengthened 21
Weakened 62
No difference (vol.) 15
No opinion 2

.
"After the Senate vote today Clinton said he was profoundly sorry for his actions. Do you think he's being sincere when he says that, or not sincere?"
%
Sincere 50
Not sincere 47
No opinion 3

 

ABC News Poll. February 6-7, 1999. N=803 adults nationwide.

.
"At the end of the trial the Senate will vote to decide whether or not Clinton should be removed from office. Do you think the Senate should or should not remove Clinton from office?"
2/6-7/99 1/19/99
% %
Should 33 36
Should not 65 60
No opinion 2 4

.
"Do you think the videotaped testimony from Monica Lewinsky and the two other witnesses helped the prosecutors' side in the impeachment case, helped Clinton's side, or made no difference?"
%
Prosecutors' side 17
Clinton's side 8
Made no difference 53
No opinion 22

.
"The current schedule calls for senators to debate the charges against Clinton and vote on them in the coming week. Do you think the Senate should debate the charges in an open, public session or in a closed, private session?"
%
Open session 56
Closed session 41
No opinion 3

.
"Do you think the Senate should or should not censure or officially reprimand Clinton for his actions in the Monica Lewinsky matter?"
2/6-7/99 1/8-10/99
% %
Should 56 57
Should not 39 38
No opinion 5 5

.
"How would you feel if the Senate allows Clinton to remain in office? Would you be pleased about that, satisfied but not pleased, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?"
%
Pleased 39
Satisfied but not pleased 29
Dissatisfied but not angry 20
Angry 11
No opinion 1

.
"Are you interested in hearing more about the impeachment case, or would you say you’re sick of it?"
%
Interested in hearing more 18
Sick of it 81
No opinion 1

 

ABC News Poll. January 19, 1999, in the closing minutes of and immediately following the State of the Union speech. N=584 adults nationwide.

.
"As you may know, the House of Representatives has voted to impeach Clinton, and the Senate is holding a trial to decide whether or not Clinton should be removed from office. After each side presents its case, do you think the Senate should then call witnesses to testify, or should the Senate complete the trial without calling witnesses to testify?"
%
Should call witnesses 39
Should not 55
No opinion 6

.
"Clinton's lawyer opened his defense in the Senate today.  From what you've heard, do you think his lawyer made a strong case against removing Clinton from office, or a weak case?"
%
Strong case 32
Weak case 24
No opinion 43

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. January 8-10, 1999. N=923 adults nationwide.

.
"As you may know, the House of Representatives has voted to impeach Clinton. Next the Senate will hold a trial to decide whether or not Clinton should be removed from office. After each side presents its case in the trial, do you think the Senate should then call witnesses to testify, or should the Senate complete the trial without calling witnesses to testify?"
%
Should call witnesses 41
Should not 55
No opinion 4

.
"Again, the House of Representatives has voted to impeach Clinton and next the Senate will hold a trial to decide whether or not he should be removed from office. Do you think the Senate should or should not remove Clinton from office?"
%
Should 33
Should not 65
No opinion 2

.
"If your U.S. senator voted in favor of removing Clinton from office, would that make you more likely to support your senator in the next election, more likely to oppose your senator for reelection, or wouldn't it make much difference in your vote?"
%
More likely to support 19
More likely to oppose 31
Not much difference 48
No opinion 2

 

CBS News Poll. February 12, 1999. N=926 adults nationwide who had previously been interviewed in CBS polls conducted 1/30-2/1/99 and 2/7/99.

.
ALL Repub-
licans		 Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents
% % % %
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Senate has handed the impeachment trial?"
Approve 39 31 42 42
Disapprove 56 66 53 52
Don't know/No answer 5 3 5 6

.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the Senate voting not to convict President Clinton and allowing him to remain in office?"
Approve 64 29 89 64
Disapprove 34 69 10 35
Don't know/No answer 2 2 1 1

.
"Just from the way you feel right now, do you think President Clinton's actions were serious enough to warrant his being convicted by the Senate and removed from the presidency, or not?"
Were serious enough 36 72 13 34
Were not 62 28 85 63
Don't know/No answer 2 0 2 3

.
"Do you think the Senate should have censured President Clinton—that is, publicly reprimand him for what he has done—or not?"
Should have 46 54 41 46
Should not 50 42 55 51
Don't know/No answer 4 4 4 3

.
"Regardless of your opinion of the outcome of the Senate impeachment trial, do you think the country would have been better off if the investigation of these charges had never started, or not?"
Better off if had never started 62 35 79 63
Not better off 34 58 17 33
Don't know/No answer 4 7 4 4

.
"Do you think Bill Clinton can still be an effective president, or not?"
Yes, can still be 74 46 92 75
No, cannot 23 49 7 22
Don't know/No answer 3 5 1 3

.
"Do you think of the whole impeachment process as mostly the investigation of possible crimes, or mostly as politics?"
Possible crimes 19 37 7 17
Politics 78 58 91 80
Don't know/No answer 3 5 2 3

 

CBS News Poll. February 7, 1999. N=631 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Repub-
licans		 Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents
% % % %
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Senate is handling the impeachment trial?"
Approve 32 51 23 28
Disapprove 56 40 64 60
Don't know/No answer 12 9 13 12

.
"Just from the way you feel right now, do you think President Clinton's actions are serious enough to warrant his being convicted by the Senate and removed from the presidency, or not?"
Are serious enough 31 65 9 28
Are not 65 32 88 66
Don't know/No answer 4 3 3 6

.
"In the Senate trial, what do you want your senators to do: vote in favor of convicting Clinton and removing him from office, or vote against convicting Clinton so he will remain in office?"
Vote for conviction 29 62 7 27
Vote against 66 31 92 67
Don't know/No answer 5 7 1 6

 

CBS News Poll. January 10-11, 1999. N=1,182 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Repub-
licans		 Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents
% % % %
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Senate is handling the impeachment trial?"
Approve 46 66 36 42
Disapprove 41 23 51 44
Don't know/No answer 13 11 13 14

.
"Do you think the U.S. Senate should hold a full trial, complete with witnesses and testimony, to decide whether or not to remove President Clinton from office, or don't you think a full trial is necessary?"
Hold a full trial 36 59 21 34
Not necessary 60 37 75 60
Trial, but not full (vol.) 1 1 1 0
Don't know/No answer 3 3 3 6

.
"Given what you know right now, do you think the Senate should censure President Clinton—that is, should the Senate vote to publicly reprimand President Clinton for what he has done—or don't you think the Senate should censure him?"
Should 52 43 58 51
Should not 38 46 34 36
Don't know/No answer 10 11 8 13

.
"Given what you know right now, do you think it would be better for the country if Bill Clinton resigned from office, or do you think it would be better for the country if Bill Clinton finished his term as president?"
Resigned 29 56 13 27
Finished term 68 40 86 68
Don't know/No answer 3 4 1 5

.
"Just from the way you feel right now, do you think President Clinton's actions are serious enough to warrant his being convicted by the Senate and removed from the presidency, or not?"
Are serious enough 37 68 14 38
Are not 61 29 84 59
Don't know/No answer 2 3 2 3

 

CBS News Poll. January 3-4, 1999. N=1,175 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Repub-
licans		 Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents
% % % %
"The U.S. House of Representatives voted on December 19, 1998, to impeach President Clinton and send articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial. Do you approve or disapprove of the House voting to impeach President Clinton?"
Approve 40 70 19 44
Disapprove 57 27 80 52
Don't know/No answer 3 3 1 4

.
"Do you think the U.S. Senate should hold a full trial, complete with witnesses and testimony, to decide whether or not to remove President Clinton from office, or don't you think a full trial is necessary?"
Hold a full trial 32 52 19 33
Not necessary 63 44 79 60
Trial, but not full (vol.) 2 3 1 2
Don't know/No answer 3 1 1 5

.
"Given what you know right now, do you think the Senate should censure President Clinton—that is, should the Senate vote to publicly reprimand President Clinton for what he has done—or don't you think the Senate should censure him?"
Should 52 45 62 45
Should not 39 44 29 45
Don't know/No answer 9 11 9 10

.
"Given what you know right now, do you think it would be better for the country if Bill Clinton resigned from office, or do you think it would be better for the country if Bill Clinton finished his term as president?"
Resigned 28 50 12 29
Finished term 70 47 87 67
Don't know/No answer 2 3 1 4

.
"Just from the way you feel right now, do you think President Clinton's actions are serious enough to warrant his being impeached and removed from the presidency, or not?"
Are serious enough 34 63 13 35
Are not 62 34 82 61
Don't know/No answer 4 3 5 4
"Some people say the Senate holding a trial would have a serious, negative impact on the country—affecting things like economic confidence and the ability to get work done. What do you think? Would a trial in the Senate have a serious, negative impact on the country, or not?"
Would have serious impact 60 47 72 56
Would not 32 47 20 35
Impact, not serious (vol.) 3 3 4 3
Don't know/No answer 5 3 4 6

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. January 30-February 1, 1999. N=1,058 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Repub-
licans		 Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents
% % % %
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Senate is handling the impeachment trial?"
Approve 37 57 28 32
Disapprove 56 36 66 59
Don't know/No answer 7 7 6 9

.
"Now that the Senate impeachment trial is underway, do you want the Senate to come to a final vote on whether or not to convict President Clinton and remove him from office, or would you be satisfied if the impeachment trial adjourned and was dropped without a final vote?"
Want a final vote 45 77 22 47
Satisfied if dropped 51 22 74 46
Don't know/No answer 4 1 4 7

.
"What about in the year 2000 elections? Do you think the way the House and Senate Republicans have handled the impeachment matter will make it harder or easier for Republican candidates to win elections in 2000?"
Harder 59 48 69 56
Easier 23 28 20 22
No effect (vol.) 9 14 4 10
Don't know/No answer 9 10 7 12

.
"Do you think the way the House and Senate Democrats have handled the impeachment matter will make it harder or easier for Democratic candidates to win elections in 2000?"
Harder 42 49 36 43
Easier 38 26 50 34
No effect (vol.) 9 12 5 11
Don't know/No answer 11 13 9 12

.
"Just from the way you feel right now, do you think President Clinton's actions are serious enough to warrant his being convicted by the Senate and removed from the presidency, or not?"
Are serious enough 37 70 14 38
Are not 61 29 84 58
Don't know/No answer 2 1 2 4

.
"So far, have you learned anything new about this whole situation from the Senate impeachment trial, or not?"
Yes 21 23 20 22
No 77 73 78 78
Don't know/No answer 2 4 2 0

.
"In the Senate trial, what do you want your senators to do: vote in favor of convicting Clinton and removing him from office, or vote against convicting Clinton so he will remain in office?"
Vote for conviction 31 64 9 31
Vote against 62 30 87 60
Don't know/No answer 7 6 4 9

.
"Some senators have proposed a two-stage vote at the end of the impeachment trial. Instead of the vote on whether or not to convict President Clinton and remove him from office, the Senate would have two separate votes -- one on whether or not they believe President Clinton did what is claimed in the articles of impeachment, and the other on whether or not to remove him from office. Do you think this procedure is a good idea or a bad idea, or haven't you heard enough about this procedure yet to say?"
Good idea 13 19 7 14
Bad idea 24 26 24 23
Haven't heard enough 60 54 62 61
Don't know/No answer 3 1 7 2

 

CNN/Time Poll conducted by Yankelovich Partners. January 20-21, 1999. N=1,024 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Repub-
licans		 Indepen-
dents		 Demo-
crats
% % % %
"Based on what you have read or heard, do you believe the Senate should remove President Clinton from office, or don't you feel that way?"
Should remove 35 65 34 14
Don't feel that way 62 31 63 83
Not sure 3 4 3 3

.
"Now that the first phase of the impeachment trial is coming to an end, the Senate is about to vote on whether or not to proceed with the trial. Once the first phase of the trial is complete, do you think the Senate should vote to end the trial at that time, or should it vote to proceed with the trial?"
End the trial 58 32 59 76
Proceed 36 63 36 18
Not sure 6 5 5 6

.
"Once the first phase of the trial is complete, do you think the Senate should hear testimony from witnesses, or don't you think so?"
Should hear testimony 40 64 40 24
Don't think so 56 32 56 74
Not sure 4 4 4 2

.
"Do you approve or disapprove of how the Republicans in the Senate are handling the impeachment trial of President Clinton?"
Approve 37 65 38 18
Disapprove 54 28 53 74
Not sure 9 7 9 8

.
"Do you approve or disapprove of how the Democrats in the Senate are handling the impeachment trial of President Clinton?"
Approve 49 34 45 66
Disapprove 40 55 44 25
Not sure 11 11 11 9

 

CNN/Time Poll conducted by Yankelovich Partners. January 7, 1999. N=1,067 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Repub-
licans		 Indepen-
dents		 Demo-
crats
% % % %
"Based on what you have read or heard, do you believe the Senate should remove President Clinton from office, or don't you feel that way?"
Should remove 34 67 34 12
Don't feel that way 62 30 62 83
Not sure 4 3 4 5

.
"In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Senate is handling the impeachment trial of President Clinton?"
Approve 35 45 38 26
Disapprove 47 33 45 57
Not sure 18 22 17 17

.
"Now suppose that the Senate took a vote on whether to hold a trial at all. If you had to choose, would you want the Senate to proceed with the trial or end it immediately?"
Proceed with the trial 38 67 38 18
End it immediately 59 32 58 79
Not sure 3 1 4 3

.
"Do you think that most U.S. senators, in their role as jurors in President Clinton's trial, will 'do impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws,' or don't you think so?"
Will do impartial justice 41 47 40 38
Don't think so 50 44 51 52
Not sure 9 9 9 10

.
"Based on what you have read or heard, do you believe that President Clinton should resign from office and Al Gore become president, or don't you think so?"
Should resign 35 64 35 16
Don't think so 63 33 63 82
Not sure 2 3 2 2

.
"Based on what you have read or heard, do you believe that Congress should censure President Clinton by passing a resolution expressing disapproval of his actions, which would not remove him from office, or don't you think so?"
Should censure 49 33 48 60
Don't think so 48 63 50 36
Not sure 3 4 2 4

.
"Do you approve or disapprove of how the Republicans in the Senate are handling the impeachment trial of President Clinton?"
Approve 35
Disapprove 55
Not sure 10

.
"Do you approve or disapprove of how the Democrats in the Senate are handling the impeachment trial of President Clinton?"
Approve 50
Disapprove 37
Not sure 13

 

Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. January 27-28, 1999. N=911 registered voters nationwide.

.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the job the Senate is doing on the impeachment trial of President Clinton?"
%
Approve 35
Disapprove 54
Don't know 11

.
"As you know, impeachment by the House of Representative does not remove the President from office. It simply means that a majority of the House thinks that charges against the President are serious enough to justify a trial by the Senate. Two-thirds of the senators have to vote to convict the President to remove him from office.

"The House voted to impeach Clinton at the end of last year and the case is now before the Senate for trial. Do you think the Senate should vote to convict him and remove him from office?"
1/27-28/99 1/13-14/99
% %
Yes 34 38
No 60 55
Not sure 6 7

.
"Do you think President Clinton perjured himself before the grand jury when he testified about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky?"
%
Yes 70
No 21
Not sure 9

.
"Do you think President Clinton obstructed justice by trying to influence what Monica Lewinsky and his secretary Betty Currie would say in their testimony?"
%
Yes 49
No 38
Not sure 13

 

Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. January 13-14, 1999. N=902 registered voters nationwide.

.
"Do you think the impeachment trial should include witnesses testifying in person before the Senate?"
%
Yes 47
No 42
It depends (vol.) 4
Not sure 7

.
"Do you think President Clinton can get a fair trial if no witnesses appear?"
%
Yes 56
No 32
Not sure 12

 

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll. February 12-13, 1999. N=1,034 adults nationwide.

.
"As you may know, the Senate today voted to acquit Bill Clinton of both articles of impeachment, which means he will remain in office. Do you approve or disapprove of that decision?"
ALL Repub-
licans		 Indepen-
dents		 Demo-
crats
% % % %
Approve 64 30 66 89
Disapprove 34 68 32 10
No opinion 2 2 2 1

.
"Which would you rather see the Senate now do [rotate]: debate a resolution to formally censure Bill Clinton for his actions OR drop the matter entirely?"
%
Debate censure 26
Drop the matter 73
No opinion 1

.
"Do you generally think [see below] is honest and trustworthy?"
Is Is
Not		 No
Opinion
% % %
Bill Clinton 35 62 3
The Republicans in Congress 45 52 3
The Democrats in Congress 48 47 5

.
Asked of half the sample (Form A): "Do you think Bill Clinton should or should not be charged in a court of law with a crime for these matters while he is still in office?"
%
Should be 30
Should not be 68
No opinion 2

.
Asked of half the sample (Form B): "Do you think Bill Clinton should or should not be charged in a court of law with a crime for these matters after he leaves office?"
%
Should be 39
Should not be 58
No opinion 3

.
"In your view, should the charges that some of President Clinton's White House aides lied under oath about the facts in the Monica Lewinsky matter be investigated, or not?"
%
Should be 36
Should not be 61
No opinion 3

.
"Do you think Attorney General Janet Reno should or should not fire Ken Starr as Independent Counsel?"
%
Should 44
Should not 50
No opinion 6

 

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll. February 9, 1999. N=711 adults nationwide.

.
"As you may know, removing a president from office involves two major steps in Congress. First, the House of Representatives must vote on whether there is enough evidence to bring a president to trial before the Senate. This step is called impeachment. Next, the Senate must vote on whether to remove the president from office, or not.

"As you may know, the House has now impeached Clinton and the case has been sent to the Senate for trial. What do you want your senators to do: vote in favor of convicting Clinton and removing him from office, OR, vote against convicting Clinton, so he will remain in office?"
In Favor Of
Convicting		 Against
Convicting		 No
Opinion
% % % N
2/9/99 31 66 3 711
1/22-24/99 33 64 3 1,031
1/15-17/99 36 61 3 1,009
1/8-10/99 32 63 5 1,014

.
"Regardless of your view on whether Clinton should be removed from office, do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Senate is handling the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton?"
2/9/99 1/15-17/99
% %
Approve 33 45
Disapprove 61 45
No opinion 6 10

.
"So far, do you think Bill Clinton has or has not gotten a fair trial in the Senate?"
%
Has 62
Has not 32
No opinion 6

.
"Assuming Bill Clinton is still president after the impeachment trial is over, do you believe Bill Clinton will or will not be able to govern the country effectively?"
%
Will 77
Will not 22
No opinion 1

 

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll. January 27, 1999. N=645 adults nationwide.

.
"As you may know, the Senate today voted on whether to end the Clinton impeachment trial immediately, or whether to continue the trial. The Senate voted to continue the trial. Do you approve or disapprove of that decision?"
%
Approve 41
Disapprove 57
No opinion 2

.
"In addition, the Senate voted today in favor of having three witnesses in the Clinton impeachment trial give testimony to the Senate in private. These witnesses would be Monica Lewinsky, Vernon Jordan, and Sidney Blumenthal. Do you approve or disapprove of that decision?"
%
Approve 44
Disapprove 54
No opinion 2

.
"Now thinking about each of these witnesses individually, please say whether you feel it is or is not important for the Senate to get additional testimony from each one. [See below.]"
It Is
Important		 It Is Not
Important		 No
Opinion
% % %
Monica Lewinsky 41 57 2
Vernon Jordan 40 53 7
Sidney Blumenthal 33 55 12

.
"Recently a group of Senate Republicans submitted ten questions to Bill Clinton concerning the Senate impeachment case. Bill Clinton refused to provide answers to these questions. Do you approve or disapprove of his decision?"
%
Approve 43
Disapprove 52
No opinion 5

.
"Finally, which of the following statements do you agree with more? [Rotate:] The Senate should end the trial now because it is certain Bill Clinton will not be convicted and removed from office, regardless of what happens in the trial. OR, The Senate should continue the trial, because the Senate can only fulfill its constitutional duties by continuing, regardless of whether the outcome already seems clear."
%
End the trial 52
Continued the trial 46
No opinion 2

 

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll. January 22-24, 1999. N=1,031 adults nationwide.

.
"Thinking for a moment now about the impeachment trial in the Senate: Do you think the Senate should vote to end the trial immediately, or not?"
%
Should 67
Should not 30
No opinion 3

.
"If the Senate does not vote to end the trial immediately, which do you think it should do: vote to have potential witnesses give their testimony in private, to see whether they will be asked to testify before the Senate, OR, vote to move immediately to the final debate and decision on whether to convict President Clinton or not?"
%
Witnesses give testimony in private 28
Move immediately to the final debate 67
No opinion 5

.
"When the Senate begins to debate the impeachment issues, do you think it should open the debate to the public and to coverage by the news media, OR, conduct the debate in private?"
%
Debate in public 49
Debate in private 49

.
No opinion 2

.
"Now thinking again about the Senate vote on whether to convict President Clinton or not: Suppose one of the U.S. senators from your state voted for convicting Bill Clinton and removing him from office. Would this make you more likely to vote for this senator in the next election, less likely, or wouldn't it affect your vote either way?"
%
More likely 16
Less likely 31
Wouldn't affect vote 51
No opinion 2

 

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll

.
"Do you think Bill Clinton should or should not resign now and turn the presidency over to Al Gore?"
Should Should
Not		 No
Opinion
% % % N
1/8-10/99 35 61 4 1,014
12/19-20/98 30 69 1 852
12/15-16/98 33 63 4 1,089
12/12-13/98 37 62 1 865
12/11/98 33 63 4 568
10/6-7/98 34 64 2 861
9/23-24/98 33 64 3 1,046
9/21/98 39 59 2 631
9/20/98 40 56 4 637
9/13/98 36 62 2 631
9/11-12/98 35 61 4 902
9/10/98 35 61 4 645

.
"Rather than removing President Clinton from office, do you think the Senate should or should not resolve this matter by voting to censure Clinton -- that is, pass a formal resolution expressing disapproval of his actions?"
[In 1998, wording was: ". . . do you think Congress . . ."]
Should Should
Not		 No
Opinion
% % % N
1/8-10/99 56 39 5 1,014
12/15-16/98 54 39 7 1,089
12/12-13/98 57 38 5 865
12/11/98 58 38 4 568
10/6-7/98 53 38 9 861
9/23-24/98 56 39 5 1,046

.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way each of the following is handling the impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton? How about [see below]?"
Approve Disap-
prove		 No
Opinion
% % % N
The Republicans in the Senate
1/27/99 33 57 10 645
1/8-10/99 36 54 10 1,014
1/6/99 32 57 11 671

.
The Democrats in the Senate
1/27/99 45 45 10 645
1/8-10/99 53 36 11 1,014
1/6/99 41 45 14 671

.
"Do you think Bill Clinton will or will not get a fair trial in the Senate?"
Will Will
Not		 No
Opinion
% % % N
1/8-10/99 65 30 5 1,014

 

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll. January 6, 1999. N=671 adults nationwide.

.
"As you may know, the Senate impeachment trial of Bill Clinton is scheduled to begin tomorrow. How long do you think this trial should last: just a few days or at least several weeks?"
%
A few days 62
Several weeks 24
Other (vol.) 10
No opinion 4

.
"Still thinking about the Senate trial, do you think the Senate should or should not hear testimony from witnesses involved in the case, such as Monica Lewinsky, Vernon Jordan and Betty Currie?"
%
Should 40
Should not 57
No opinion 3

.

.
"Which of the following three courses of action in the Clinton impeachment process would you most like to see the Senate do: hold a trial; not hold a trial, but vote to censure Clinton; not hold a trial or censure Clinton?"
%
Hold a trial 42
Vote to censure 32
Neither trial nor censure 21
None/Other (vol.) 2
No opinion 3

.
"Next, how likely is it that anything that might come up in the Senate trial would change your mind about whether Clinton should be removed from office: very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?"
%
Very likely 3
Somewhat likely 8
Not too likely 26
Not likely at all 59
No opinion 4

.
"Do you think Bill Clinton should or should not give his State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress later this month, if the senators are sitting in judgment of Clinton in an impeachment trial?"
%
Should 60
Should not 36
No opinion 4

 

The Harris Poll. January 7-12, 1999. N=1,008 adults nationwide.

.

.
"Do you think the Senate should convict President Clinton of high crimes and misdemeanors and remove him from office or acquit him?"
ALL Men Women
% % %
Convict 35 39 31
Acquit 57 54 59
Don't know 6 4 7
Refused 2 2 2

.
"Which would you favor: a short, quick trial of the President where no witnesses are called or a full and longer trial in which both the prosecution and the defense can call many witnesses?"
%
Short, quick trial 69
Full and longer trial 26
Don't know/Refused 4

.
"How would you rate the job the following are doing in the impeachment process: excellent, pretty good, only fair, or poor? . . ."
Excellent Pretty
Good		 Only
Fair		 Poor Don't
Know
% % % % %
"The President and his legal advisors"
12 36 27 18 6

.
"The Senate as a whole"
8 33 34 17 8

.
"The Republican congressmen who are prosecuting the President"
8 29 26 33 3

 

The Los Angeles Times Poll. February 12, 1999. N=664 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents		 Repub-
licans
% % % %
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Senate handled the impeachment trial to convict and remove the president from office?"
Approve 37 36 42 33
Disapprove 56 58 53 53
Don't know 7 6 5 14

.
"There is a movement to draft a censure resolution to guarantee that President Clinton is publicly reprimanded after winning acquittal in the impeachment trial. Do you favor or oppose this censure resolution?"
Favor 38 36 37 43
Oppose 47 45 52 43
Don't know 15 19 11 14

 

The Los Angeles Times Poll. January 27-29, 1999. N=960 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents		 Repub-
licans
% % % %
"Last week the Republican House managers presented their case before the U.S. Senate accusing President Clinton of committing perjury before the grand jury. The White House lawyers then presented their case denying these charges. In your opinion, did the Republican House managers prove their case that President Clinton committed perjury, or not?"
Did prove 44 22 51 74
Did not 37 60 33 16
Don't know 19 18 16 10

.
"Last week the Republican House managers presented their case before the U.S. Senate charging President Clinton with obstruction of justice. The White House lawyers then presented their case denying these charges. In your opinion, did the Republican House managers prove their case that President Clinton obstructed justice, or not?"
Did prove 33 14 37 63
Did not 48 67 46 25
Don't know 19 19 17 12

 

Marist College Poll. January 25-26, 1999. N=882 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Demo-
crats		 Repub-
licans		 Indepen-
dents
% % % %
"If you were a member of the U.S. Senate would you vote to convict and remove President Bill Clinton, or not?"
Would 32 12 57 37
Would not 63 86 38 57
Unsure 5 2 5 6

.
"If you were a member of the U.S. Senate would you vote to censure President Bill Clinton, or not?"
Would 47 47 46 52
Would not 47 47 51 44
Unsure 6 6 3 4

.
"Regardless of what the U.S. Senate does, do you think that criminal charges should be brought against President Clinton after he leaves office, or not?"
Should be 35 16 57 39
Should not be 60 79 37 55
Unsure 5 5 6 6

 

NBC News Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Robert Teeter (R). January 11-12, 1999. N=502 adults nationwide.

.
"Now that the House of Representative has passed articles of impeachment against President Clinton and sent the matter to the U.S. Senate, which one of the following do you think is the best way to bring the impeachment issue to an end: (A) move to dismiss the charges as soon as possible; (B) hold a full-scale trial with witnesses, to determine whether or not to remove President Clinton from office; or (C) have a limited trial without any witnesses, take a preliminary vote, and try to negotiate a censure compromise?"
%
A. Move to dismiss charges 30
B. Hold a full-scale trial 31
C. Have a limited trial, negotiate censure 37
Other (vol.) 2

.
"Do you think that the U.S. Senate should or should not convict President Clinton and remove him from office?"
%
Should 36
Should not 57
Not sure 7

.
"Do you think that the Senate will or will not conduct a fair impeachment trial?"
%
Will 50
Will not 32
Depends (vol.) 8
Not sure 10

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Robert Teeter (R). January 16-18, 1999. N=1,011 adults nationwide.

.
"In a Senate trial, do you think that the Senate should or should not call witnesses, including Monica Lewinsky, to testify?"
%
Should 41
Should not 55
Not sure 4

.
"Do you think that the U.S. Senate should or should not convict President Clinton and remove him from office?"
%
Should 32
Should not 60
Not sure 8

.
"Do you think that President Clinton should or should not resign from office?"
%
Should 39
Should not 57
Not sure 4

.
"While you may have a preferred course of action on this matter, I'm going to read you a number of possible outcomes that the U.S. Senate might arrive at in dealing with President Clinton's impeachment trial. For each one, please tell me whether that Senate action would be acceptable or unacceptable to you.
Accept
able		 Unaccept-
able		 Not
Sure
% % %
"Censure and being required to admit that he lied under oath"
55 41 4

.
"Censure with a financial fine"
53 43 4

.
"Censure but no financial fine"
46 50 4

.
"Conviction and removal from office"
42 57 1

.
"No censure or removal from office"
41 57 2

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. February 11-12, 1999. N=752 adults nationwide.

.
"We're interested in how your opinion of some different groups has changed over the past year of the Monica Lewinsky investigation and impeachment. (First,) has your opinion of [see below] become more favorable, less favorable, or stayed about the same?"
More Less Same Don't
Know
% % % %
The First Lady 33 20 44 3
The Democratic Party 16 28 51 5
The House of Representatives 16 36 44 4
The Republican Party 12 44 41 3
Vice President Al Gore 11 17 66 6
Local elected officials 10 19 67 4
The Senate 9 40 47 4
The political process 6 50 40 4
The national media 5 56 36 3
The President 5 56 36 3

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. January 28-29, 1999. N=751 adults nationwide.

.
ALL Repub-
licans		 Demo-
crats		 Indepen-
dents
% % % %
"Thinking about the impeachment trial in the Senate, what do you think should happen to Bill Clinton now? Do you think he should be convicted and removed from office? Do you think he should be censured for his behavior but not removed from office? Or, do you think impeachment itself was enough punishment and the Senate should find him not guilty and drop the matter?"
Convicted and removed 28 54 8 28
Censured, not removed 29 21 35 31
Drop the matter 39 19 55 38
Don't know 4 6 2 3

.
"After Bill Clinton leaves office as president, do you think he should be indicted and tried in a court of law for the actions that are the basis for his impeachment?"
Should be 30 47 13 31
Should not be 65 45 83 64
Don't know 5 8 4 5

.
"Do you think the Republican Party has been helped or hurt by the way the impeachment proceedings have been conducted in the U.S. House and Senate so far, or do you think the Party hasn't been much affected either way?"
Helped 9 16 5 6
Hurt 54 40 67 54
Not much affected 29 36 22 31
Don't know 8 8 6 9

 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. January 19-23 & 25, 1999, tracking poll. N=1,500 adults nationwide.

.
"Based on what you know at this point, do you think that Bill Clinton should or should not be removed from office?"
%
Should 33
Should not 63
Don't know/Refused 4

 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. January 14-17, 1999. N=1,200 adults nationwide.

.
"Based on what you know at this point, do you think that Bill Clinton should or should not be removed from office?"
%
Should 32
Should not 64
Don't know/Refused 4

.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way each of the following is handling the current investigation into the charges against Bill Clinton? . . ."
Approve Disap-
prove		 Don't
Know
% % %
Republicans in Congress
32 60 8

.
Democrats in Congress
44 44 12

.
Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist
50 24 26

.
Bill Clinton
45 49 6

.
The news media
35 59 6

.
"How much of the live coverage of the Senate impeachment trial have you watched: almost all of it, a lot of it, some of it, hardly any of it, or none of it?"
%
Almost all 5
A lot 10
Some 34
Hardly any 28
None 22
Don't know/Refused 1

.
"Do you think Clinton will or will not receive a fair trial in the Senate?"
%
Will 55
Will not 34
Don't know/Refused 11

.
Asked of half the sample (N=608):
"So far, has the Senate trial itself made you more likely to support Clinton's removal from office, less likely to support his removal from office, or hasn't it affected your opinion either way?"
%
More likely to support 12
Less likely to support 15
Hasn't affected opinion 69
Haven't paid attention to trial (vol.) 1
Don't know/Refused 3

 

Zogby International "America Poll." January 19-21, 1999. N=993 likely voters nationwide.

.
"What do you feel is the best outcome of the Clinton impeachment case? End the trial and leave the President alone. A mild censure, meaning that the President does not have to admit he lied and will not necessarily be held accountable once his term is up. A strong censure, meaning he must admit he lied and can be held accountable for prosecution after he leaves office. Removal from office."
%
End the trial 28
Mild censure 20
Strong censure 24
Removal from office 25
Not sure 4

 

BACK TO TOP

HOME | TABLE OF CONTENTS | SEARCH THE SITE
Copyright © 2015 POLLING REPORT, INC., and polling/sponsoring organizations