Dates in office: January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001
During Clinton's 1992 presidential election campaign, Gennifer Flowers came forward to say that she had had a 12-year extramarital relationship with Clinton. This lowered his approval rating tremendously.
Dates in office: January 20, 2021-
President Biden's approval rating hit an all-time low in 2023, driven by concerns about high prices, security at the US-Mexico border, and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Dates in office: January 20, 1981 to January 20, 1989
Reagan's approval rating plummeted when the US experienced a recession and high unemployment in 1982.
Dates in office: August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977
Having endured the Watergate scandal and President Richard Nixon's resignation, Americans welcomed Ford with a high approval rating.
Dates in office: January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009
In the time of national crisis following the September 11 attacks, polls showed high approval ratings for Bush.
Dates in office: January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981
Carter's final year as president was marred by the Iran hostage crisis, which dominated the news at the time.
Lowest approval rating: 24% (1974)
Highest approval rating: 67% (1969)
Nixon's approval ratings never recovered from that point, and he left office with dismal presidential approval ratings.
Lowest approval rating: 48% (1958)
Highest approval rating: 79% (1956)
However, the launch of Sputnik 1 and a poor economy contributed to a decrease in his approval ratings and loss in the 1968 elections.
Dates in office: January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021
As Trump was leaving the White House in 2021, only 34% of Americans approved of the job he was doing as president.
Lowest approval rating: 56% (1963)
Highest approval rating: 82% (1961)
However, the federal government's intervention in civil rights confrontations led to regional divides, which increased JFK's disapproval rating.
Lowest approval rating: 48% (1939)
Highest approval rating: 83% (1942)
The key to his popularity was foreign policy, not the economy, which contributed to his lowest approval rate in 1939. However, during WWII, FDR introduced measures to prepare the nation for war, which gained support from the American public.
Lowest approval rating: 35% (1968)
Highest approval rating: 79% (1964)
Johnson chose not to run for re-election in 1968, largely due to the disastrous war and internal conflicts tearing apart the Democratic Party.
Lowest approval rating: 29% (1992)
Highest approval rating: 89% (1991)
But by 1992, many Republicans' support of Bush had diminished for a variety of reasons, including raising taxes and cutting defense spending.
Dates in office: January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017
Despite his overwhelming success in the 2008 and 2012 elections, Obama hasn't always been the most popular president at the poll.
Lowest approval rating: 22% (1951)
Highest approval rating: 87% (1945)
This was largely due to economic slowdown, a prolonged military engagement in the Korean War, labor strife, and federal government corruption.
Sources: (Gallup) (Reuters) (Pew Research) (Vox)
Lowest approval rating: 38% (2014)
Highest approval rating: 69% (2009)
In fact, he reached his lowest point with 38%, which came when he announced more relaxed laws involving illegal immigrants.
Lowest approval rating: 37% (2023)
Highest approval rating: 57% (2021)
Biden's age, 81, is also a concern for many American voters.
Lowest approval rating: 37% (1993)
Highest approval rating: 73% (1998)
This lowered his approval rating tremendously, but he still won the election.
Lowest approval rating: 35% (1983)
Highest approval rating: 68% (1986)
However, by the time of his second term in office, Reagan's ratings had recovered.
Lowest approval rating: 37% (1975)
Highest approval rating: 71% (1974)
However, his approval rating fell when he pardoned Nixon shortly after he took office and never really recovered.
Lowest approval rating: 34% (2021)
Highest approval rating: 49% (2020)
However, since leaving office, Trump has continued to dominate the Republican Party and is the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
Lowest approval rating: 28% (1979)
Highest approval rating: 75% (1977)
The consequences of Iran's holding Americans captive, together with continuing inflation in the US, contributed to Carter's defeat and unpopularity in 1980.
Lowest approval rating: 25% (2008)
Highest approval rating: 90% (2001)
However, his decline became historically low due to growing concern over the US-led occupation of Iraq and a slow recovery from the 2001 recession.
Dates in office: January 20, 1969 to August 9, 1974
Although Nixon started his presidency with strong approval ratings, the Watergate scandal quickly turned things around.
Dates in office: November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969
While Johnson began his presidency with widespread approval, his public support declined as the war in Vietnam dragged on and domestic unrest increased.
Dates in office: January 20, 1989 to January 20, 1993
With the end of the Persian Gulf War in March 1991, Bush had very high approval ratings.
Dates in office: January 20, 1961 to November 22, 1963
After a solid start to his second year in office, Kennedy's approval rating stayed steady throughout the rest of his presidency.
Dates in office: April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953
The approval rating of the 33rd president decreased significantly in his second term.
Dates in office: January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961
The 34th president maintained positive approval ratings throughout his tenure.
Dates in office: March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945
FDR was the first president to have his popularity checked in polls.
The attributes, abilities, accomplishments, and most of all, mistakes, of each US president are always subject to debate. Public opinion on these matters is captured in polls, most notably by the historical organization Gallup which has surveyed Americans since the mid-1930s to see who they think is doing the best job as president. And you might be surprised by some of the results!
So, who is the lowest-polled US president in modern history? Click on to find out.
The most unpopular presidents in modern history
US presidents with the lowest approval ratings
CELEBRITY Politicians
The attributes, abilities, accomplishments, and most of all, mistakes, of each US president are always subject to debate. Public opinion on these matters is captured in polls, most notably by the historical organization Gallup which has surveyed Americans since the mid-1930s to see who they think is doing the best job as president. And you might be surprised by some of the results!
So, who is the lowest-polled US president in modern history? Click on to find out.