CBS News/New York Times Pre-Inauguration Poll, January 1997 (ICPSR 4585)

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This special topic poll, fielded January 14-17, 1997, was undertaken to assess public opinion prior to Bill Clinton's second-term inauguration as President of the United States. Respondents gave their opinions of President Clinton and his handling of the presidency and issues such as foreign policy and the economy, as well as of Hillary Clinton and her handling of the role of first lady. Those polled voiced their concerns about President Clinton's upcoming second term in office, whether he or the Republicans in Congress would have more influence over the country's direction, whether they would be able to work together to solve issues such as Medicare funding and campaign finance reform, and whether recent scandals would interfere with the president's ability to do his job. Respondents rated the condition of the country, the economy, and their own personal lives, and identified the most important problems facing the nation and the United States Congress. Several questions addressed how much respondents trusted the federal government, whether hearings should be held to investigate illegal campaign contributions taken by the Democratic party from foreign businessmen, and whether people needed to take more individual responsibility to solve the country's problems. Views were also elicited on Vice President Al Gore, Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, the United States Congress, and the Republican and Democratic parties. Additional topics focused on the recently passed welfare reform bill, organized prayer in public schools, balancing the federal budget, the Whitewater real estate development project, the Paula Jones lawsuit, how often respondents did volunteer work, and which team they hoped would win the upcoming Super Bowl. Demographic variables include sex, age, education, race, household income, religious preference, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, for whom the respondent voted in the 1996 presidential and United States House of Representatives elections, whether they had a child entering the ninth grade in the fall of 1996, and whether a teenager was living in the household.

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