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15. John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) -

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. 

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John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) -

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.

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14. Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) -

Dates in office: January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961

The 34th president maintained positive approval ratings throughout his tenure. 

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Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) -

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.

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13. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) -

Dates in office: March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945

FDR was the first president to have his popularity checked in polls. 

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Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) -

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. 

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12. Barack Obama -

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. 

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Barack Obama -

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.

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11. Joe Biden -

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. 

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Joe Biden -

Lowest approval rating: 37% (2023) 

Highest approval rating: 57% (2021)

Biden's age, 81, is also a concern for many American voters.

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10. Bill Clinton -

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. 

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Bill Clinton -

Lowest approval rating: 37% (1993) 

Highest approval rating: 73% (1998)

This lowered his approval rating tremendously, but he still won the election. 

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9. Gerald Ford (1913-2006) -

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. 

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Gerald Ford (1913-2006) -

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.

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8. Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) -

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. 

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Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) -

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. 

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7. Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) -

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.

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Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) -

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. 

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6. Donald Trump -

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. 

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Donald Trump -

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. 

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5. George H. W. Bush (1924-2018) -

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.

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George H. W. Bush (1924-2018) -

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. 

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4. Jimmy Carter -

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. 

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Jimmy Carter -

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.

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3. George W. Bush -

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. 

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George W. Bush -

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. 

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2. Richard Nixon (1913-1994) -

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. 

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Richard Nixon (1913-1994) -

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.

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1. Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) -

Dates in office: April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953

The approval rating of the 33rd president decreased significantly in his second term. 

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Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) -

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) 

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