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Showing 1 – 50 of 53 results.

Curated

ABC News Education Poll, February 1990 (ICPSR 9440)

Released/updated on: 2007-01-26

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-02-14--1990-02-15

This survey focuses on public education in the United States. Respondents were asked if they thought improvement of the educational system was the most important thing that the United States must do to meet strong economic challenges from the European nations and Japan, how they rated the quality of the public education and teachers, and if the problems of education were bigger than those of the federal budget deficit, drugs, hunger and malnutrition, the environment, and foreign economic competition. In addition, respondents were asked to rate the effectiveness of various means to improve the quality of education, if federal, state, or local government should provide the most money for public schools, if failure to improve educational system would turn the United States into a second-rate power, and if the Bush administration was doing enough to improve the educational system. Background information on respondents includes education, age, sex, income, race, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News Poll, November 1990 (ICPSR 9561)

Released/updated on: 2007-07-03

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-11-01--1990-11-04

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include approval ratings for public officials (George Bush, Congress, the respondent's representative in Congress, Democrats, and Republicans) on the issues of job performance, handling of the economy, and handling of the situation caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the budget deficit reduction plan (and the income group that would be most affected by it), and the income group that Bush, Democrats, and Republicans cared most about. Respondents also were asked how important various political issues were to their vote choice on election day, if they planned to vote in the upcoming general election, for which party they would vote, and whether they would vote to re-elect their own representative. Other questions focusing on the situation in the Persian Gulf addressed the issues of the use of military force if necessary to ensure Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait, long-term military presence of the United States in the Gulf region, the use of military force should the economic embargo prove unsuccessful, the likelihood that the United States would go to war with Iraq, and Americans and other foreigners being held hostage by Iraq. Background information provided includes political alignment, registered voter status, 1988 presidential and congressional vote choices, education, age, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Coup Poll, August 1991 (ICPSR 9757)

Released/updated on: 2007-09-18

Geographic coverage: United States

This survey focuses on issues related to the military takeover in the Soviet Union and the removal of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev from power. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way George Bush was handling the situation in the Soviet Union, whether the events in the Soviet Union posed a major threat to world peace, whether the economic and political reforms in the Soviet Union would continue under the new leaders, whether the new leaders could be trusted to honor the Soviet Union's international treaties, how likely it was that the Soviet Union would go back to hard-line communism, and whether the people who took power in the Soviet Union would be able to remain in power over the long term. Respondents were also questioned about whether the United States should cut long-range nuclear missiles, scale back sales of wheat to the Soviet Union, and help the republics that wanted to break away from the Soviet Union. They were also asked if they thought the Cold War would start again. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, age, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Budget Agreement Poll, September 1990 (ICPSR 9559)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-22

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-09-12--1990-09-13

This data collection focuses on issues related to the federal budget deficit. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way Bush and the Democrats in Congress were handling the federal budget deficit, if it was necessary for the government to raise taxes to help balance the federal budget deficit, and if they approved of various measures in the agreed-upon budget deficit reduction plan. Other topics covered include reduction of the capital gains tax on profits from sale of investments, increasing the amount of Social Security benefits that can be taxed, and the feasibility of the deficit reduction package. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Cease Fire Poll, March 1991 (ICPSR 9608)

Released/updated on: 1992-02-17

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-03-01--1991-03-03

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include the economy, the environment, foreign affairs, and whether Bush was able to deal with major problems facing the nation. In addition, respondents were questioned in depth regarding the situation in the Persian Gulf, including whether a large number of United States soldiers should remain in the Persian Gulf to help maintain peace, whether the United States could claim a victory if Saddam Hussein remained in power, if the Middle East would be more stable as a result of the war, and if the war would leave the United States in a stronger position in the world. Respondents were also asked if their decisions to vote to re-elect a representative or senator would be influenced by that individual's voting against the resolution that authorized George Bush to start the Gulf War, if they had gained or lost respect for certain countries and certain people as a result of the war, and if the war was worth fighting considering the costs versus the benefits to the United States. Among the other subjects addressed were federal energy policy, trade restrictions with Mexico, an international conference on the Arab-Israeli problem, and relations between Israel and the Palestinians. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, number of people in household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Dan Quayle Poll, May 1991 (ICPSR 9610)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-01

Geographic coverage: United States

This survey centers on Vice President Dan Quayle. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way Quayle was handling his job as vice president, if they thought Quayle was qualified to be vice president and would be qualified to take over as president if something were to happen to George Bush, if Bush should keep Quayle on the ticket for re-election in 1992, and if the news media had been fair to Quayle. In addition, respondents also were questioned regarding Bush's irregular heartbeat episode and general health status. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Iraq Poll, November 1990 (ICPSR 9562)

Released/updated on: 2008-07-24

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-11-30--1990-12-02

This data collection focuses on the situation caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Respondents were asked if they approved of George Bush's handling of the situation and the sending of American troops to the Persian Gulf, if the United States should use military force if necessary to ensure Iraq withdraws from Kuwait, if the economic boycott of Iraq would make Iraq withdraw, if they approved of the United Nations Security Council authorization of the use of force should Iraq not withdraw by January 15th, whether the United Nations resolution would convince Iraq to withdraw, and whether Congress should endorse the resolution. Additional topics covered include the likelihood that the United States would get involved in a war with Iraq (and, if so, the length of that war), the resumption of the military draft in the United States, the likelihood of a diplomatic solution as a result of talks between Secretary of State Baker and the Iraqi foreign minister to Washington, issues surrounding the interaction between Bush and Congress regarding the situation and possible war, and the reason behind American troops' being sent to the Middle East (moral principle or economic reality). Background information provided includes political alignment, education, age, race, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Iraq Rebel Poll, April 1991 (ICPSR 9609)

Released/updated on: 2008-09-12

Geographic coverage: United States

This survey focuses on issues related to the Iraqi rebels who attempted to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way George Bush was handling the situation, whether the United States should have encouraged the rebels and tried to help them, and whether they favored certain actions the United States could take to help the rebels in Iraq. In addition, respondents were asked if a large number of United States soldiers should remain in the Persian Gulf to help maintain peace and if the United States was heading for the same kind of involvement in the Persian Gulf that it had in the Vietnam War. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, vote choice for the House of Representatives election in November 1992, age, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Iraq War Polls, January-February 1991 (ICPSR 9563)

Released/updated on: 2009-01-20

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-01-13--1991-02-27

This data collection consists of telephone surveys concerning the Persian Gulf war between Iraq and the allied Coalition forces. Part 1, conducted just prior to the January 15th deadline set by the United Nations Security Council for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, asked respondents if the United States should take military action, what the likelihood was that the United States would go to war, how long the war would last, and how many casualties would result. Additional questions included whether the United States should hold further talks with Iraq, whether a diplomatic solution was possible, if the United States should agree to an Arab-Israeli conference, and if respondents approved of actions taken by George Bush and Congress. Parts 2-9 were conducted after the outbreak of war. Respondents were asked if they approved or disapproved of George Bush's and Israel's handling of the situation, of the United States' having gone to war, and of American anti-war protests. They were also asked how long they thought the war would last, how many casualties would result, who would win, if enough had been done to seek a diplomatic solution, and if the United States and her allies had been right to attack Iraq. In addition, respondents were asked how they rated the job the United States military was doing, if the air war would be enough or if a ground war would be necessary, if the government was releasing enough or too much information, if Israel should strike back at Iraq for the missile attacks, if the respondent was afraid to travel or afraid of increased terrorism, if the United States was heading toward another Viet Nam, and whether moral principle or economic reality had been the motive behind American troops' being sent to the Persian Gulf. Other topics covered include the final objective of the war (driving Iraq out of Kuwait or Saddam Hussein from power), allied bombing in Baghdad and issues surrounding hits on possible military targets that would result in civilian casualties, the presence of American reporters in Iraq, talks between Iraq and the Soviet Union seeking a diplomatic solution, and a set of questions addressing possible outcomes for Saddam Hussein and the respondent's personal feelings regarding him. Background information provided includes age, race, sex, political party identification, state/region of residence, and if the respondent had friends or relatives serving in the military in the Gulf region.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post John Tower Poll, February 1989 (ICPSR 9241)

Released/updated on: 2008-07-24

Geographic coverage: United States

This data collection contains information regarding the nomination of John Tower as secretary of defense and other political issues. Respondents were asked if they approved of the choices Bush made for his Cabinet, specifically John Tower, whether the president should be allowed to choose his cabinet without Senate approval, if Tower was treated fairly by the Senate, and if a delay in naming a secretary of defense would threaten the country's national security. Additionally, respondents were queried about John Tower's drinking habits, his fitness to be secretary of defense, and whether the Senate's rejection of Tower's nomination would be a defeat for President Bush. Background information on respondents includes political alignment and sex.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Middle East Poll, August 1990 (ICPSR 9463)

Released/updated on: 2008-07-31

Geographic coverage: United States

This survey solicits opinions on the situation in the Middle East caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Respondents were asked if they favored or opposed sending United States military forces to defend Saudi Arabia, if they favored or opposed using the United States Navy to blockade Iraq's ports, if the United States should keep military forces in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf until Iraq withdraws its troops from Kuwait even if it meant keeping those forces there for many months or even years, and if they favored or opposed the United States taking stronger military action against Iraq if Iraq took American hostages. Respondents also were asked if they thought the oil companies would cooperate with Bush and avoid arising oil and gas prices, how important it was to include troops from Arab countries in the joint forces against Iraq, if they thought the United States was going to get involved in a war with Iraq and who would win this war, if the invasion of Kuwait would have a major negative impact on the United States economy, and if comparisons between Saddam Hussein and Hitler and Stalin were fair. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, age, race, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, October 1991 (ICPSR 9755)

Released/updated on: 2007-05-17

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-10-15--1991-10-20

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include the economy, foreign affairs, the most important problem facing this country, who was most responsible for doing something about this problem, and which political party better represented the interests of poor people, rich people, and the middle class. In addition, respondents were questioned on whether they thought people in government wasted a lot of money and whether most of them were dishonest. Respondents were also asked if they had a favorable impression of certain people who might run in the presidential election, whom they would vote for if the House of Representatives election were held that day, and toward which candidate they were leaning. Other subjects addressed included whether respondents supported a federal law requiring businesses with more than 50 employees to allow workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave and a federal law giving unemployed people as much as 20 weeks of extra unemployment benefits, whether the United States should cut military spending because of the changes in the Soviet Union, and whether the Senate should have confirmed Clarence Thomas's nomination to the Supreme Court. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, number of people in household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, September 1990 (ICPSR 9557)

Released/updated on: 1992-02-17

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-09-06--1990-09-09

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Major topics covered include Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the economy, the federal government, and the upcoming congressional election. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way Bush, King Hussein of Jordan, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Jesse Jackson were handling the situation caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, how important it was for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, if they approved of Bush's decision to send American military forces to the Persian Gulf, if they thought Bush had been tough enough with Iraq, if the United States should strike first against Iraq, if the United States would have to get involved in a land war with Iraq, and if the economic boycott would make Iraq withdraw from Kuwait. Concerning economic issues, respondents were questioned about consumer prices and taxes. They were also asked for their opinions on which country was the strongest economic power, whether life was easier or harder for young people currently, and whether it would be easier or harder ten years from now. Other questions revolved around confidence in various American institutions, respondent's trust in the federal government, the level of ethics and honesty in politics, the degree to which public officials care about people like the respondent, and the importance of various political and social issues in deciding which candidate and political party to vote for on election day. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, registered voter status, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, number of people in the household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #2, October 1991 (ICPSR 9754)

Released/updated on: 2008-02-04

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-10-24--1991-10-27

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include respondents' confidence in certain institutions, federal, state, and local taxes, government spending, Dan Quayle's work as vice president, and the things they liked and disliked about the Democratic and Republican parties. Respondents also were asked whether they ever voted for a Democratic or Republican presidential candidate in a general election, which problems were important in deciding how to vote for president, whom they would vote for as president if the 1992 election were held that day, and toward which candidate they were leaning. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, origin of ancestors, social class, marital status, number of people in household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, August 1989 (ICPSR 9355)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-22

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1989-08-17--1989-08-21

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked what the most important problem facing the country was, how they felt about charges of alleged wrongdoing by former Reagan Housing Department officials, and who was taking the stronger leadership role in Washington--Bush or Congress. Respondents also were questioned regarding the destruction and burning of the American flag, the status of the nation's economy, the federal budget deficit, and spending on a series of federal government programs. Other topics covered include terrorism and the Middle East, the quality of education provided by public high schools, the new Medicare program covering catastrophic illness and long-term hospital stays, oil shipping companies and related environmental problems, and the upcoming House of Representatives election. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, sex, income, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 1991 (ICPSR 9890)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-22

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1992-12-11--1992-12-15

This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved or disapproved of Bush's handling of the presidency and why, whether the nation's economy could be described as excellent, good, not so good, or poor, whether they were better off financially than in 1989 when Bush became president, and whether Bush cared equally about serving people of all income levels. Concerning political parties, respondents were asked whether the Democrats or Republicans could do a better job of coping with the main problems the nation would face in the coming years and which party could better handle issues such as the economy, crime, foreign affairs, education, defense, and health care. Concerning Congress, respondents were asked whether they approved of the way their own United States Representative was handling his or her job, whether they approved of the way Congress in general was doing its job and why, and whether they approved of the way the Democrats in Congress were handling the nation's economy. In addition, those surveyed were asked whether Bush or the Democrats in Congress could be trusted to do a better job on the economy, whether Bush and the Democrats in Congress were more interested in doing what's best for the economy or what's best for themselves politically, and whether the United States needed a new president that would set the nation in another direction. Respondents were also asked whether cutting taxes or increasing domestic spending was more important at the present time, whether their biggest problem was high taxes, slow income growth, or too much debt, whether it had become more difficult to get a promotion or a better job in the past year, whether their hours and overtime had been reduced in the past year, and if their latest pay raise had been higher or lower than usual. Concerning the 1992 presidential election, respondents were asked for whom they would vote if their state held a Democratic or Republican primary/caucus for president, toward whom they were leaning for the primary/caucus at the time of the interview, what the chances were that they would vote in the 1992 presidential election, whether they would vote for Bush or various other prospective candidates/nominees were the national election held at the time of the interview, and toward whom they were leaning for the national election at the time of the interview. Additionally, respondents were asked whether they would consider voting for David Duke, whether they would like to see the 1992 national elections result in a Republican president with a Democratic majority in Congress or various other combinations and how important that was, and how much a candidate's position on health care influenced the respondent's vote. Other topics included living wills, the cost and availability of health care, approaches to financing health care, and health benefits provided by employers. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, most recent presidential vote choice, education, age, race, income, economic class, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, urban/suburban/rural residence, and sex.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 1992 (ICPSR 6026)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-19

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1992-12-11--1992-12-14

This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to comment on whether they felt things in the United States were going in the right direction, and to give their approval rating of George Bush with respect to his handling of the presidency and the economy. In addition, respondents were asked to assess Bush's ultimate place in history and his handling of the presidential transition. Questions were also posed about Bill Clinton, including whether the respondent approved of Clinton's choice of cabinet members and the potential effects his administration would have on the economy. Respondents also gave their approval rating of Bush's decision to send troops into Somalia, assessed the length of United States involvement in that area, and offered opinions about whether homosexuals should be allowed to serve in the military. Much of the poll focused on issues of sexual harassment in the workplace and the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas, including Anita Hill's testimony alleging sexual harassment. Respondents were asked whether they believed these charges and whether Thomas was fit to serve on the bench. Those polled were asked to estimate the incidence of sexual harassment in the workplace, to relate their personal experiences with sexual harassment, and to identify situations in the workplace that would be indicative of sexual harassment. Respondents were also asked for their opinions of recent allegations of sexual harassment involving Senator Robert Packwood and his response to those charges, how Congress should handle this particular case, and how frequently they thought sexual harassment by members of Congress occurred. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, most recent presidential vote choice, education, age, area of residence, employment status, Hispanic origin, household income, and gender.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, February 1989 (ICPSR 9240)

Released/updated on: 2006-11-28

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1989-02-10--1989-02-14

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of social issues. Topics covered include the federal budget deficit, the economy, and United States involvement with Japan. Additionally, respondents were asked whether the power held by the United States had changed in the past 20 years and whether it would by the end of the century, whether the United States government promoted democracy around the world, and if the United States protected its economic interests around the world. Respondents' opinions also were sought on the use of federal funds to pay for abortions and the conditions (if any) under which abortions should be legal. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, marital status, household composition, union affiliation, employment status, race, income, and sex.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, February 1990 (ICPSR 9438)

Released/updated on: 2006-11-28

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-02-01--1990-02-04

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way George Bush was handling the nation's economy, the illegal drug problem, foreign affairs, and relations with China, and if they approved of the way George Bush, Congress, and Dan Quayle were handling their jobs. In addition, respondents were questioned regarding Bush's State of the Union address and the leadership roles of Bush and Congress. Other topics covered include the capital gains tax, abortion, the Social Security system, defense spending, the upcoming international drug summit, and drug trafficking in Colombia. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, sex, income, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1990 (ICPSR 9436)

Released/updated on: 2006-11-28

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-01-11--1990-01-16

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked to name the two most important problems facing the country, if they approved of the way George Bush was handling the nation's economy, the environment, the illegal drug problem, and foreign affairs, and if they trusted federal, state, and local governments to do what was right. Respondents also were questioned as to which political party they trusted to do a better job handling a variety of political, economic, and social problems, if they thought things would get better in the next ten years, and how they would rate the military and economic power of the United States vis-a-vis Japan and the Soviet Union over the past 20 years. Other topics covered include the United States military action in Panama, Manuel Noriega, the illegal drug problem, and respondents' satisfaction with careers, marriage, children, and cultural life. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, sex, income, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1992 (ICPSR 9887)

Released/updated on: 1993-10-11

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1992-01-30--1992-02-02

This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked to identify the most important problem facing the country, to indicate whether they approved or disapproved of Bush's handling of the presidency in general and of his handling of foreign affairs and the economy in particular, and to offer opinions on whether Bush was able to deal with the big issues that faced the country. Those surveyed were also asked if they approved of the way their own United States Representative was handling his or her job, and whether they approved of the way Congress was doing its job. Concerning economic matters, respondents were asked how the money from potential cuts in military spending should be used, whether they were better off financially than in 1989 when Bush became president, and whether Bush or the Democrats in Congress could be trusted to do a better job on the economy. Concerning political parties, respondents were asked whether the Democrats or Republicans better represented the interests of various groups of people, and whether the Democrats or Republicans could do a better job of coping with the main problems the nation would face in the coming years. Focusing on health care, respondents were asked whether they trusted Bush or the Democrats in Congress to do a better job of improving the health care system in this country, whether they could vote for a candidate whose position on health care was different from theirs, and if a candidate's position on health care was the most important issue to consider in deciding whether to support that candidate. With respect to Bush's 1992 State of the Union address, those surveyed were asked if they approved of most of the proposals made in the speech, how much Bush's economic proposals would help the economy and the respondent's own financial situation, and whether Bush would be able to accomplish most of the goals he outlined in his speech. Concerning the Persian Gulf War, the survey asked respondents whether the war had been worth fighting considering its cost to the United States versus its benefit, and whether the respondent was more likely to support Bush for a second term as a result of the Gulf War. Regarding the issue of extramarital affairs involving a presidential candidate, respondents were asked if they could vote for a candidate who had had an affair, whether the allegation that Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton had had an affair would have an effect on their vote, and if that should be an issue in the presidential election. Respondents were also asked whether Clinton should withdraw from the race if it turned out that he did have an affair with Gennifer Flowers, whether his withdrawal should be based on having had an affair or having denied it, and whether Clinton or Flowers had told the truth. Concerning the 1992 presidential election, respondents were asked for whom they would vote if their state held a Democratic or Republican primary/caucus for president, toward whom they were leaning at the time of the interview, whether they would vote for Bush or various other prospective candidates/nominees if the national election were held at the time of the interview, and toward whom they were leaning at the time of the interview. Those surveyed were also asked their views concerning presidential primaries and caucuses, and about their expectations for the 1992 presidential campaign. Additional campaign questions asked respondents if who is elected in 1992 really made any difference, and whether they thought that they were being referred to when Republican and Democratic candidates for political office talked about the middle class. Other questions dealt with the respondent's impression of various candidates involved in the 1992 presidential election, the reelection of the respondent's representative in Congress, and the chances of the respondent's voting in the 1992 presidential election. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, most recent presidential vote choice, education, age, race, income, economic class, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, urban/suburban/rural residence, and sex.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 1989 (ICPSR 9354)

Released/updated on: 2008-01-15

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1989-06-05--1989-06-19

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include the state of the economy, foreign affairs, and nuclear weapons policy. In addition, respondents were asked how much of a threat the Soviet Union, China, and communism posed to the security of the United States, if they favored or opposed the pro-democracy demonstrations in China, how important it was for the United States to show strong support for the pro-democracy movement in China, and if they approved of Bush's reaction to the Chinese government. Respondents also were questioned on the issues of abortion, child care, air and water pollution, and raising the federal minimum wage. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, sex, income, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 1991 (ICPSR 9611)

Released/updated on: 2008-01-08

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-05-30--1991-06-02

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were questioned regarding the condition of the national, state, and local economies, financial conditions of the federal and state governments, the most important thing they thought should be done to improve these conditions, and which political party they trusted to do a better job of coping with the main problems facing the nation over the next few years. Respondents also were questioned in depth about civil rights, including whether they thought Blacks and other minorities were discriminated against in hiring, whether Blacks had a better chance of advancing to management or supervisory positions than whites, and whether they thought the Democrats or the Republicans generally came closest to reflecting their views on civil rights. Other topics covered include abortion, financial aid to and free trade with the Soviet Union, and the Persian Gulf War. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, number of people in household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 1992 (ICPSR 9939)

Released/updated on: 2008-04-04

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1992-06-03--1992-06-07

This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked if they felt that things in the United States were going in the right direction and whether they approved of how Bush was handling the presidency, the economy, race relations, education, and the environment. Respondents also offered approval ratings of Congress and their own Congressional representatives, rated the condition of the economy, and indicated whether they were better off financially than in 1989 when George Bush became president. In addition, respondents gave their impressions of Bush, Bill Clinton, Ross Perot, Dan Quayle, and television character Murphy Brown. They were also asked whether Vice President Quayle would be qualified to take over as president if something happened to Bush, and whether after four years of Bush a new president was needed that could set the country in a new direction. Concerning the 1992 presidential election, those surveyed rated their chances of voting, indicated for whom they would vote if the election were held the day of the interview, and commented on whether they supported a candidate because they liked him or because they didn't like the other candidates. Perot supporters were asked whether they would vote for Bush or Clinton if Perot did not run, and whether they would switch their support from Perot to one of the two major-party candidates in November. All respondents were asked if they thought the candidates were qualified, whether there was a candidate for whom they would definitely not vote under any circumstances, and whether they would be better off financially under Bush, Clinton, or Perot. Those surveyed were also asked which candidate would do the best job of dealing with a variety of problems including race relations, unemployment, foreign affairs, the economy, the environment, health care, and protecting the Social Security system. Respondents indicated the applicability of various characteristics to each of the candidates including strong leadership, vision for the future, trustworthiness in a crisis, understanding the needs of average Americans, honesty, the right temperament to serve as president, and high moral standards. In addition, those surveyed indicated whether the views of Bush, Clinton, and Perot were too liberal, too conservative, or just about right, whether they had a good idea of where the three candidates planned to lead the nation in the next four years, and whether they would be more or less likely to support a presidential candidate who had engaged in extramarital affairs, had never run for public office, or had come from a wealthy, privileged background. Other topics included assessments of the Republican and Democratic parties, re-electing representatives in Congress, the role of the federal government, and the Los Angeles riots of 1992. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, most recent presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, area of residence, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, Hispanic origin, household income, and sex.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Souter Nomination Poll, July 1990 (ICPSR 9462)

Released/updated on: 2008-10-10

Geographic coverage: United States

This survey focuses on the nomination of David H. Souter to the United States Supreme Court. Respondents were asked if they favored the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that allowed abortion within the first three months of pregnancy, if a nominee's views on abortion should influence Senate confirmation, if they approved of Souter's nomination to the Supreme Court, and if they thought Bush should have appointed a minority or a woman to the Court. Respondents also were asked if the Senate should consider Souter's political views as well as his background and qualifications, if Bush should have ascertained Souter's political and legal views on major issues before nominating him, if the Senate Judiciary Committee should question Souter about his views on issues such as abortion, if they thought the nomination would become bogged down in politics in the Senate, and if Souter should be confirmed only if he said he would vote to overturn the Supreme Court's 1973 ruling. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, education, age, race, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post State of the Union Poll, January 1992 (ICPSR 9884)

Released/updated on: 2008-10-09

Geographic coverage: United States

This survey was conducted after President Bush's 1992 State of the Union address. Respondents were asked to evaluate Bush's performance as president and to indicate their approval or disapproval of the proposals made in the State of the Union address. They were also asked about the extent to which the proposals would help the economy, whether Bush would be able to accomplish most of the goals outlined in his State of the Union address, and whether the Democrats in Congress should help the president accomplish these goals. Additional questions dealt with respondents' opinions about allegations of an extramarital affair involving Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton and Gennifer Flowers. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, education, age, race, income, and sex.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Super Bowl Poll, January 1992 (ICPSR 9888)

Released/updated on: 2008-10-09

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1992-01-13--1992-01-15

In addition to providing an ongoing evaluation of the Bush presidency, this survey focused on professional football in general and the 1992 Super Bowl in particular. Those surveyed were asked whether they approved of the way George Bush was handling his job as president, whether Bush spent too much time on foreign problems instead of on problems in this country, and whether Bush was starting to spend more time on domestic problems. Regarding professional football, respondents were asked how closely they followed the sport, whether they knew which teams were playing in the 1992 Super Bowl, and who their first, second, and third most favorite National Football League (NFL) teams were. In addition, those surveyed cast their predictions for the team they thought would win the Super Bowl, along with identifying the team they would like to see win. Other football-related questions included whether NFL referees should continue to use instant replay to review plays and calls, whether the situation of few Blacks in management positions with NFL teams reflected discrimination against qualified Blacks, whether the Washington Redskins should change their team name because it was offensive to Native Americans, and whether the respondent knew the names of the teams that won and lost the 1991 Super Bowl. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, education, age, race, income, and sex.

Curated

American National Election Study, 1990-1992: Full Panel Survey (ICPSR 6230)

Released/updated on: 2005-12-15

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-01-01--1993-01-01

This study is part of a time-series collection of national surveys fielded continuously since 1952. The American National Election Studies are designed to present data on Americans' social backgrounds, enduring political predispositions, social and political values, perceptions and evaluations of groups and candidates, opinions on questions of public policy, and participation in political life. This collection includes respondents who were first interviewed following the November 1990 general election (see AMERICAN NATIONAL ELECTION STUDY, 1990: POST-ELECTION SURVEY [ICPSR VERSION] [ICPSR 9548]), and then reinterviewed in two subsequent surveys: AMERICAN NATIONAL ELECTION STUDY: 1990-1991 PANEL STUDY OF THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF WAR/1991 PILOT STUDY [ICPSR VERSION] (ICPSR 9673) and AMERICAN NATIONAL ELECTION STUDY, 1992: PRE- AND POST-ELECTION SURVEY [ENHANCED WITH 1990 AND 1991 DATA] (ICPSR 6067). The purpose of this panel study is to trace the fortunes of the Bush presidency, from post-Gulf War height to November election defeat, and to provide insight into the origins of the Bill Clinton and Ross Perot coalitions. It also allows the panel analyst to do a traditional assessment of panel attrition which is not possible with any of the collections mentioned above. In 1990, respondents answered questions on topics such as presidential performance, the Persian Gulf War, values and individualism, and foreign relations. Post-election vote validation and election administration survey data are also included. In 1991, respondents were reinterviewed several months after hostilities in the Persian Gulf ended. The survey content consisted of a repeat of a subset of questions from the 1990 Post-Election Survey, and additional items especially relevant to the Gulf War. A number of contextual variables also are provided, including summary variables that combine the respondent's recall of his or her senator's and representative's vote on the use of force with that congressperson's actual vote. New pilot questions were also asked in areas such as gender, ethnicity, medical care for the elderly, and social altruism. In 1992, respondents were asked their positions on social issues such as altruism, abortion, the death penalty, prayer in the schools, the rights of homosexuals, sexual harassment, women's rights, and feminist consciousness. Other substantive themes included racial and ethnic stereotypes, opinions on school integration and affirmative action, attitudes towards immigrants (particularly Hispanics and Asians), opinions on immigration policy and bilingual education, assessments of United States foreign policy goals, and United States involvement in the Persian Gulf War. Part 2 provides information on the total number of cases included in the 1990 Post-Election Survey sample (1,980 respondents who were valid interviews and 805 selected respondents who were not interviewed) in order to study survey nonresponse. Variables include reasons for noninterview, the number of calls, and characteristics of the noninterviewed household.

Curated

ANES 1990-1992 Merged File (ICPSR 35134)

Released/updated on: 2014-05-19

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-01-01--1993-01-01

Curated

ANES 1990 Time Series Study (ICPSR 35135)

Released/updated on: 2014-06-25

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-11-06--1991-01-26

Curated

ANES 1990 Time Series Study (ICPSR 9548)

Released/updated on: 2015-11-10

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-11-06--1991-01-26

Curated

ANES 1992 Time Series Study (ICPSR 35138)

Released/updated on: 2014-05-19

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-01-01--1992-01-01

This study is part of a time-series collection of national surveys fielded continuously since 1952. The election studies are designed to present data on Americans' social backgrounds, enduring political predispositions, social and political values, perceptions and evaluations of groups and candidates, opinions on questions of public policy, and participation in political life. The 1992 National Election Study entailed both a pre-election interview and a post-election reinterview. Approximately half of the 1992 cases are comprised of empaneled respondents who were first interviewed in AMERICAN NATIONAL ELECTION STUDY, 1990: POST-ELECTION SURVEY (ICPSR 9548) and later in AMERICAN NATIONAL ELECTION STUDY: 1990-1991 PANEL STUDY OF THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF WAR/1991 PILOT STUDY (ICPSR 9673). The other half of the cases are a freshly drawn cross-section sample. The panel component of the study design provides an opportunity to trace how the changing fortunes of the Bush presidency, from the high levels of approval at the start of the Gulf War through the decline after the onset of a recession, affected voting in the November 1992 presidential election. It also permits analysts to investigate the origins of the Clinton and Perot coalitions as well as changes in the public's political preferences over the two years preceding the 1992 election. In the 1990 Post-Election Survey two forms of the survey instrument were used, with about 75 percent of the content being the same on both forms. Survey questions included the now-standard National Election Studies battery of questions, along with items on presidential performance and the Persian Gulf conflict. Additionally, Form A contained questions relating to values and individualism, while Form B had content relating to foreign relations. In 1991, respondents were reinterviewed several months after hostilities in the Persian Gulf ended, and in this second wave the survey content consisted of a repeat of a subset of questions from the 1990 Post-Election Survey, along with additional items especially relevant to the Gulf War. A number of contextual variables also are provided, including summary variables that combine the respondent's recall of his or her senator's and representative's vote on the use of force with that congressperson's actual vote. The content for the 1992 Election Study reflects its dual purpose, both as the traditional presidential election year time-series data collection and as the third wave of a panel study. In addition to the standard or core content items, respondents were asked their positions on social issues such as altruism, abortion, the death penalty, prayer in the schools, the rights of homosexuals, sexual harassment, women's rights, and feminist consciousness. Other substantive themes included racial and ethnic stereotypes, opinions on school integration and affirmative action, attitudes toward immigrants (particularly Hispanics and Asians), opinions on immigration policy and bilingual education, assessments of United States foreign policy goals, and United States involvement in the Persian Gulf War. Part 2, the Nonresponse "Bias" File, designed to permit analysis of the causes and consequences of nonresponse, presents information concerning 3,690 cases that include complete or partial interviews for the Pre-/Post-Election Survey plus refusals, no-contact, and nonsample cases.

Curated

Simple Crosstabs

ANES 1992 Time Series Study (ICPSR 6067)

Released/updated on: 2016-06-23

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-01-01--1992-01-01

This study is part of a time-series collection of national electoral surveys fielded continuously since 1948. The American National Election Studies are designed to present data on Americans' social backgrounds, enduring political predispositions, social and political values, perceptions and evaluations of groups and candidates, opinions on questions of public policy, and participation in political life. The 1992 National Election Study entailed both a pre- and a post-election interview. Approximately half of the study cases are empaneled respondents who were first interviewed in the AMERICAN NATIONAL ELECTION STUDY, 1990: POST-ELECTION SURVEY (ICPSR 9548) and later in the AMERICAN NATIONAL ELECTION STUDY: 1990-1991 PANEL STUDY OF THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF WAR/1991 PILOT STUDY (ICPSR 9673). The other half of the cases are a freshly drawn cross-section sample. The panel component of the study design provides an opportunity to examine how the changing fortunes of the Bush presidency - from the high levels of approval at the start of the Gulf War to the decline in popularity after the onset of an economic recession - affected voting in the November 1992 presidential election. It also permits analysts to investigate the origins of the Clinton and Perot coalitions as well as changes in the public's political preferences over the two years preceding the 1992 election. The 1990 Post-election Survey used two forms of the data collection instrument, with about 75 percent of the content being the same on both forms. The survey included the standard National Election Studies battery of questions, along with items on presidential performance and the Persian Gulf conflict. Additionally, Form A contained questions relating to values and individualism, while Form B had items about foreign relations. In 1991, panel respondents were re-interviewed several months after the end of hostilities in the Persian Gulf, and in this second wave the survey repeated a subset of questions from the 1990 Post-election Survey, along with additional items especially relevant to the Gulf War. A number of contextual variables are also provided, including summary variables that compare the respondent's recall of his or her senator's and representative's vote on the use of force with that congressperson's actual vote. The content of the 1992 Election Study reflects its dual purpose, as a traditional presidential election year time-series survey and the third wave of a panel study. In addition to the standard or core content items, respondents were asked about their positions on social issues such as altruism, abortion, the death penalty, prayer in schools, the rights of homosexuals, sexual harassment, women's rights, and feminism. Other substantive themes included racial and ethnic stereotypes, opinions on school integration and affirmative action, attitudes toward immigrants (particularly Hispanics and Asians), opinions on immigration policy and bilingual education, assessments of the United States' foreign policy goals, and the United States' involvement in the Persian Gulf War. DS2: Nonresponse Bias Data File was designed to facilitate analyses of the causes and consequences of non-response. Of the 3,690 cases presented in the file, 2,485 are complete or partial interviews, 497 are refusals, 64 are no-contact, 213 are other types of non-interviews, and 431 are non-sample cases (including households without an eligible respondent).

Curated

ANES Time Series Cumulative Data File (1948-2008) (ICPSR 35100)

Released/updated on: 2014-05-02

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1948-01-01--2008-01-01

This collection pools common variables from each of the biennial National Election Studies conducted since 1948. The election studies are designed to present data on Americans' social backgrounds, enduring political predispositions, social and political values, perceptions and evaluations of groups and candidates, opinions on questions of public policy, and participation in political life. The data provided in this cumulative file include a series of demographic variables and measures of social structure, partisanship, candidate evaluation, retrospective and incumbent presidential evaluation, public opinion, ideological support for the political system, mass media usage, and equalitarianism and post-materialism. Additional items provide measures of political activity, participation, and involvement, and voting behavior and registration (including results of vote validation efforts). In 2001, corrections were made to variables VCF0902, VCF0904, and VCF0905.

Curated

Simple Crosstabs

ANES Time Series Cumulative Data File (1948-2012) (ICPSR 8475)

Released/updated on: 2015-10-23

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1948-01-01--2012-01-01

This collection pools common variables from each of the biennial National Election Studies conducted since 1948 up until 2012. The election studies are designed to present data on Americans' social backgrounds, enduring political predispositions, social and political values, perceptions and evaluations of groups and candidates, opinions on questions of public policy, and participation in political life. The data provided in this cumulative file include a series of demographic variables and measures of social structure, partisanship, candidate evaluation, retrospective and incumbent presidential evaluation, public opinion, ideological support for the political system, mass media usage, and egalitarianism and post-materialism. Additional items provide measures of political activity, participation, and involvement, and voting behavior and registration, including results of voter validation efforts.

Curated

CBS News Federal Budget Deficit Poll, October 1990 (ICPSR 9614)

Released/updated on: 2009-07-20

Geographic coverage: United States

This survey focuses on issues related to difficulties encountered by the federal government in reaching agreement on a federal budget deficit reduction plan. Respondents indicated their approval or disapproval of President Bush's handling of both his presidency and the budget deficit, identified President Bush or Congress as being more to blame or equally to blame for the difficulties in dealing with the deficit, and specified whether Republicans or Democrats in Congress were more at fault or equally at fault in dealing with the deficit situation. Respondents were queried regarding their general knowledge of the problem, including how closely they had followed the difficulties with the budget, their perception of the difficulties as either a true crisis or a political machination, and their opinion of the House of Representatives' rejection of the deficit reduction compromise arrived at by the President and leaders of Congress. Regarding the House's rejection of the compromise, those surveyed indicated whether they would vote for their representative based on his/her vote on the compromise, and if they knew how their representative had voted. Respondents also reacted to Bush's shutting down of various government services rather than signing a bill to extend them another week and indicated whether they had been affected by the shutdown or if they anticipated being affected. In addition, respondents revealed their preference for a large across-the-board cut in all government programs and services or a federal budget deficit reduction plan, and speculated about whether Congress was likely to arrive at a plan that would be fair. Those surveyed also indicated whether they would be willing to comply with a series of measures to reduce the deficit, including paying an additional $100 to $500 a year in taxes, raising the charge for Medicare, raising the tax on beer, wine, liquor, and gasoline, limiting government health and education services, and raising taxes for people with incomes of over $100,000 a year. Respondents also evaluated the strength of Bush's leadership in trying to settle the budget, indicated whether or not they were registered to vote and if they would vote for the Republican or Democratic candidate in their district for the House of Representatives if that election were held today, commented on whether most congressmen have made decisions based on what is best for the country or what they think will insure re-election, and characterized the cause of difficulty in reaching a budget agreement as either disagreement over important issues or political bickering. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, employment of a household member by the federal government, income, education, age, race, sex, number of adults at home, and state/region of residence.

Curated

CBS News Iraq Poll, September 1990 (ICPSR 9613)

Released/updated on: 2009-04-03

Geographic coverage: United States

This survey focused on issues related to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Respondents were asked whether they approved or disapproved of President Bush's handling of the situation, whether the United States did the right thing by sending troops to Saudi Arabia, and whether the United States' purpose in sending troops was mainly to stop an Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia or to protect the supply of oil to the United States. Respondents were also asked whether they favored or opposed the enforcing of an economic blockade of all goods to Iraq, whether they would favor or oppose such a blockade even if Western hostages in Iraq went without food and medicine, whether they would favor or oppose a blockade of all goods except food and medicine, and whether they would favor or oppose the United States invading Kuwait if an embargo failed to convince Saddam Hussein to withdraw. In addition, respondents were asked how long they expected United States troops to remain in the Persian Gulf area and whether they anticipated that the United States military would fight Iraq or that the situation would be resolved without fighting. Respondents also commented on whether they would favor or oppose an attempt by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to mediate the crisis, and whether President Bush should tape a message for Iraqi television in response to Saddam Hussein's offer to broadcast such a message. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, education, age, race, sex, number of adults at home, and state/region of residence.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, October 1990 (ICPSR 9615)

Released/updated on: 2010-03-31

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-10-08--1990-10-10

Curated

CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #3, October 1992 (ICPSR 6095)

Released/updated on: 2010-07-09

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1992-10-21--1992-10-23

This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were queried regarding their vote intentions for the 1992 presidential election, their opinions of the 1992 presidential candidates and their running mates, and the likelihood of their voting in the 1992 presidential election. Questions pertaining to the presidential candidates focused on their ability to care about the needs and problems of people and bring about the kind of change the country needs, the likelihood that they would raise taxes, whether they could be trusted to deal with all the problems a president faces, allegations brought against Bill Clinton concerning his draft status, and allegations regarding the Bush Administration's dealings with Iraq before the Persian Gulf War. The survey also dealt with topics such as the responsibilities of the federal government to industry, to the poor, and to the military, the federal budget deficit, the environment, the three presidential debates, abortion, and the national economy. In addition, respondents gave their approval ratings of George Bush with respect to his handling of the presidency, foreign affairs, and the economy, and their opinions of campaign commercials for the three presidential candidates. Background information on the respondents includes sex, age, race, education, religious preference, family income, political orientation, party preference, vote choices in the 1984 and 1988 presidential elections, and voter registration status.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll, April 1991 (ICPSR 9622)

Released/updated on: 2010-08-17

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-04-01--1991-04-03

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Demographic information collected includes sex, age, race, education, interest in sports, experience with the police, knowledge of people looking for work, family income, religion, ethnicity, political orientation, party preference, and voting behavior in the 1988 presidential election. Issues addressed in this survey include Bush's handling of the economy and foreign policy, the most important problem facing the country and the political party that could best handle it, unemployment vs. inflation as the most important economic problem facing the country, and whether the United States was in an economic recession and the degree to which the policies of the Bush and Reagan administrations should be blamed. The survey also queried respondents concerning finances, employment, satisfaction with place of residence, likelihood of moving, percentage of income spent on housing, buying and owning a home, various aspects of major league baseball, issues related to police protection and brutality, the adoption of student codes of conduct at universities, and the probability of voting for George Bush or the Democratic presidential candidate in 1992.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll, December 1990 (ICPSR 9618)

Released/updated on: 2010-10-07

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-12-09--1990-12-11

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Demographic information collected includes sex, age, race, education, family income, religion, ethnicity, political orientation, party preference, and voting behavior. Issues addressed in this survey include the biggest threat to the respondent's way of life in 1991, Bush's handling of the economy and Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, whether the United States did the right thing by sending troops to Saudi Arabia and whether Bush explained the situation in the Middle East well enough so that people understood why troops were sent, whether the United States would end up fighting Iraq or resolving the situation peacefully, whether the Bush Administration had tried hard enough to reach a diplomatic solution or had been too quick to involve American military forces, and whether the United States should negotiate a compromise with Saddam Hussein or hold to its original demand that Iraq leave Kuwait entirely. Respondents were also asked whether they thought Iraq would actually release all the hostages by the end of the month and if their release should influence the United States' willingness to negotiate a compromise with Hussein, whether the United States should begin military actions against Iraq if they did not withdraw their troops from Kuwait by January 15 or wait longer to see if economic sanctions worked, and how long the United States should wait to see if the trade embargo worked. Respondents were also queried as to their agreement/disagreement with the following statements: the troubles among Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are just a conflict between different groups of Arabs that the United States should stay out of, the crisis in the Persian Gulf will continue as long as Saddam Hussein remains in power, public debate over whether the United States should fight Iraq will hurt the effort to persuade Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, and the military draft should be reinstated to provide soldiers for the current Mideast situation. Those surveyed were also asked to choose a statement that comes closest to expressing their beliefs about God, to indicate whether they believed that prayer could change lives, and whether they went to a private doctor, hospital emergency room, or clinic when sick. In addition, the survey posed a series of questions related to responsibilities of adult children toward aging parents, various parenting situations, romantic love, birth control, beer commercials, sponsorship of sporting events by cigarette companies, marital infidelity, marital status, apologizing in marriage, and topics eliciting arguments in marriage.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll, March 1991 (ICPSR 9621)

Released/updated on: 2011-02-07

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-03-04--1991-03-06

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Demographic information collected includes sex, age, race, education, family members serving in the Armed Forces in the Persian Gulf, family income, religion, ethnicity, political orientation, party preference, and voting behavior. Issues addressed in this survey include Bush's handling of the economy and foreign policy, how things were going in the United States compared with five years ago and what the situation would be five years from now, whether the country was heading in the right direction, the most important problem facing the country, and the political party that could best handle it. Respondents were also asked for their opinions of various public figures including Dan Quayle, Norman Schwarzkopf, and Dick Cheney. Other questions concerned whether the United States was in decline as a world power, the trustworthiness of the government and military, the country that will be the number one economic power in the world in the next century, and what the future holds for the next generation of Americans. The survey also posed a series of questions pertaining to the likelihood and appropriateness of future military intervention elsewhere by the United States now that the Persian Gulf War was over, sympathy for Israel vs. sympathy for Arab nations, the economic recession, the homeless, the drug problem, education, the environment, comparison of the Democratic vs. Republican parties on a variety of topics, voting for congressmen based on whether they voted to authorize war or continue economic sanctions, reducing the federal budget deficit, comparison of the technological advancement of the United States and Japan, and the likelihood of voting for George Bush or the Democratic candidate in 1992.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll, November 1990 (ICPSR 9617)

Released/updated on: 2011-01-20

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-11-13--1990-11-15

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Demographic information collected includes sex, age, race, education, family income, religion, ethnicity, political orientation, party preference, and voting behavior. Issues addressed in this survey include Bush's handling of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, whether the United States did the right thing by sending troops to Saudi Arabia and whether Bush had explained the situation in the Middle East well enough so that people understood why troops were sent, whether Bush was correct to send additional troops to the Persian Gulf, whether respondents anticipated the United States military fighting Iraq or a peaceful resolution to the situation, whether the Bush Administration tried hard enough to reach a diplomatic solution or was too quick to involve American military forces, whether the United States should commence military action against Iraq soon or wait, and whether the United States' main purpose in sending troops was to fulfill its duty to protect its friends or to prevent the price of oil from increasing too much if the Iraqis controlled oil fields in the Middle East. Respondents were asked if the following were good enough reasons for taking military action against Iraq: to restore the government of Kuwait and defend Saudi Arabia against aggression, to stop Saddam Hussein from developing nuclear weapons, or to protect the source of much of the world's oil. Other questions probed for respondents' opinions on whether Congress should have to vote on a declaration of war or if the president should be allowed to send troops into combat when there is no time to wait for Congress to act, and whether who is elected makes any real difference. A series of questions dealing with family dinnertime habits and the relative importance of eating dinner together as a family was also asked, along with a series of questions dealing with home mortgages, Social Security deductions, and the number of times the respondent changed jobs and moved in the last five years.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times National Survey, June 3-6, 1991 (ICPSR 9863)

Released/updated on: 2011-01-21

Time period: 1991-06-03--1991-06-06

In addition to providing an ongoing evaluation of the Bush presidency, this survey polled respondents on a variety of social and political topics including political parties, economics, racism, the Persian Gulf War, patriotism, Mikhail Gorbachev and the Soviet Union, China, and health care policy. Respondents were asked whether they approved of George Bush's handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy. Detailed queries on political topics included items on the most important problem facing the country and the party that could best handle it, and the party best able to control unemployment, reduce the federal deficit, keep the United States out of war, deal with foreign economic competition, and insure the prosperity of the country. Respondents were also asked which party was more concerned with the needs of people like themselves, which was more likely to make sure that United States military defenses are strong and that children get a better education in the public schools, which was more likely to improve the health care system, which party favored the rich, the middle class, and the poor, which party cared more about the needs and problems of women, men, Blacks, and Whites, and which was more likely to waste tax money. Economic questions focused on whether trade restrictions were necessary to protect domestic industries, what the condition of the national economy was, whether the United States was in an economic recession, and whether the economy was getting better. Questions concerning racism asked whether preference should be given to hiring Blacks where there had been discrimination in the past, whether preferential hiring or promotion of Blacks hurts Whites, and whether the respondent had ever been discriminated against. Questions focusing on the Persian Gulf War included whether the war to defeat Iraq was worth the cost, whether the results of the war would make the chance for peace in the Middle East more likely, whether the United States should have stopped fighting when Iraqi troops left Kuwait or continued fighting Iraq until Saddam Hussein was removed from power, if the respondent felt proud about what the United States had done in the Persian Gulf, and whether the United States made a mistake by getting involved in the war against Iraq. Other questions examined how patriotic the respondent felt, whether people were more patriotic, and whether politicians talk about patriotism as a means of winning votes. Respondents were also asked whether their opinion of Mikhail Gorbachev was favorable, whether they favored helping the Soviet Union reform its economy by providing economic aid, whether it was more important to criticize China's suppression of human rights or to maintain good relations with China, and whether China should receive the same trading privileges as other friendly nations. Questions regarding specific health policies included whether abortion should be available to all or be available with stricter limits, whether the government should require employers to make health insurance available, and whether the respondent favored or opposed national health insurance. Respondents were asked how much they thought they knew about AIDS, whether the United States should keep people who have tested positive for AIDS from entering the country, whether there had been a lot of discrimination against people with AIDS, whether they had sympathy for those who have the disease, what age children should be told about AIDS and the specific ways to prevent transmitting it, if the government should require health care workers to be tested for AIDS, whether the respondent had changed his/her sexual habits due to fear of getting AIDS, and whether the respondent knew someone who had the disease or who had died from it. Background information includes the respondent's voting behavior in the 1988 presidential election, party affiliation, political orientation, voter registration status, age, race, religion, education, marital status, parental status, employment, and family income.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times National Survey, May 7-8, 1991 (ICPSR 9864)

Released/updated on: 2011-02-17

Time period: 1991-05-07--1991-05-08

This survey, in addition to providing an ongoing evaluation of the Bush presidency, polled respondents on topics such as the Kurdish refugees of the Persian Gulf War, Vice President Dan Quayle, and the 1992 presidential campaign. Respondents were asked whether they approved of George Bush's handling of the presidency, foreign policy, the economy, and relations with the Soviet Union, whether Bush had strong leadership qualities, and if it was possible that Bush had been involved in efforts to delay the release of American hostages in Iran during the 1980 Reagan presidential campaign. Questions regarding the Persian Gulf included whether respondents approved of Bush's handling of the situation with the Kurds, if the United States was doing enough to aid the Kurdish refugees, whether the actions of the United States in the Persian Gulf were partly responsible for the problems the Kurdish people were having with the Iraqi government, and whether the United States should have stopped or continued fighting when Iraqi troops left Kuwait. Questions focusing on Dan Quayle asked how favorably respondents viewed him, if his performance since becoming vice president made the respondent think better of him, whether he was qualified to serve as president, whether he had strong qualities of leadership, and whether he understood the complicated problems a president has to deal with. Also asked were questions regarding how confident the respondent was of Quayle's doing a good job if he became president, how concerned the respondent was that Bush might not be able to complete his term as president, and whether Bush's hospitalization for an irregular heartbeat increased concern about his ability to complete his term. Concerning the 1992 presidential campaign, respondents were asked whether they would vote for Bush or the Democratic candidate, whether Bush should keep Dan Quayle on the ticket as the Republican vice-presidential nominee in 1992, and whether replacing Quayle as Bush's running mate would make it more likely for respondents to vote for the Bush ticket. Additional questions pertained to the cyclone victims in Bangladesh, gun laws, gun ownership, bankruptcy, and job discrimination laws. Background information includes the respondent's voting behavior in the 1988 presidential election, party affiliation, political orientation, voter registration status, age, race, education, and family income.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times October Foreign Policy/Congressional Scandal Poll, October 5-7, 1991 (ICPSR 9803)

Released/updated on: 2011-02-28

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-10-05--1991-10-07

This survey dealt primarily with foreign policy issues and the congressional check-writing scandal. Respondents were asked whether President George Bush had been spending too much of his time on foreign policy, whether the United States was in decline as a world power, how closely they followed news about foreign policy issues, which part of the world the president should focus his attention on and whether it was important enough to warrant taking attention away from problems at home, whether the United States was more respected in the world than it was ten years ago, if any country posed a serious military threat to the United States, how likely nuclear war was within the next ten years, and which country would be the number one economic power in the world in the next century. The survey also explored other foreign policy issues, including United States-Soviet relations in light of the break-up of the Soviet Union into different republics with separate governments, the war against Iraq, the involvement of the United States in establishing democracy in other countries, federal spending on military and defense programs, the nature of the changes in East-West relations brought about by recent world events, the relevance of a strong United States military and the maintenance of NATO, United States military intervention in trouble spots around the world, the funding and role of the Central Intelligence Agency, the future of nuclear weapons policy involving the United States and Soviet Union, circumstances under which the United States should give economic aid to the Soviet Union, the number of American troops stationed in Europe, United States relations with China, Israeli settlements on the West Bank, and the influence of Israel and Saudi Arabia on United States foreign policy. Respondents were also asked about the amount of attention they had given to the news of United States representatives writing bad checks, whether they thought the bad checks were written deliberately or by mistake, whether the congressional representative from the respondent's own district had knowingly written bad checks, if the respondent would vote for someone else if his/her congressman had knowingly written bad checks or had been slow in paying large bills at the congressional restaurant, and whether respondents considered the various free services received by members of Congress to be mostly unjustifiable privileges.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times October Politics Survey, October 15-17, 1991 (ICPSR 9801)

Released/updated on: 2011-03-18

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-10-15--1991-10-17

This survey focused on George Bush and the field of Democratic presidential candidates for the 1992 presidential election. Respondents were asked whether they approved of Bush's handling of the presidency, whether they would vote for Bush or for the Democratic nominee if the elections were held that day, and if there were any circumstances in which Bush supporters would change their votes to the Democratic candidate and vice versa. Respondents were also asked who they would like to see win the Democratic nomination, whether they were satisfied with the candidates, if the Democratic candidates had important differences, whether Mario Cuomo or Jesse Jackson should run for president in 1992, and whether the Democrats should nominate a liberal, a moderate, or a conservative. Those surveyed also considered whether a presidential candidate currently serving as governor could fulfill responsibilities to his or her home state and still run for president, whether marital infidelity, exaggerated war records, or homosexuality on the part of a candidate would influence the respondent to vote for someone else, whether Bush would be re-elected, and whether foreign policy or domestic issues would matter more in deciding how to vote. The survey posed additional questions, including whether Bush or a Democratic president would be more likely to do a better job of handling foreign policy and the economy, reducing the deficit, raise taxes, improving education, improving race relations, and improving health care, whether Bush or a Democratic president would be more likely to raise taxes, whether it would be preferable to have a candidate whose political experience was mostly outside Washington, whether most candidates for public office are financially corrupt and run because they want power and prestige, if a presidential candidate's opposition to the Persian Gulf War would influence the respondent's vote, whether the respondent would vote for a generally well-qualified Black presidential candidate if nominated by his or her party, and whether most White Americans would vote for a generally well-qualified Black presidential candidate if nominated by their party. Other questions involved the confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court and the Senate hearings on Anita Hill's sexual harassment charges against Thomas, limited terms for members of Congress, romantic relationships between men and women, and televised sports events.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times Persian Gulf War Polls, January-February 1991 (ICPSR 9619)

Released/updated on: 2006-01-12

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-01-11--1991-02-25

This series of interviews tracks public opinion regarding the Persian Gulf War from the period immediately prior to the initiation of bombing in January 1991 to the ensuing ground combat in February. In addition to monitoring the evolving war, these data also provide an ongoing evaluation of the Bush presidency during that time period. Part 1 (January 5-7) examines sending troops to Saudi Arabia vs. staying out, the likelihood of war, Bush's efforts to find diplomatic solutions, negotiating with Saddam Hussein vs. forcing Iraq to leave Kuwait, the possibility of terrorist attacks in the United States, how closely the respondent followed the news of the Persian Gulf situation, military action against Iraq vs. waiting for sanctions to work, requiring a congressional declaration of war, Congress voting on a declaration of war before or after the January 15 deadline for Iraq's withdrawal, the January 9 meeting between Secretary of State James Baker and Iraq's foreign minister, attempting to meet with Hussein before January 15, and what might happen in the Persian Gulf in the event of war or otherwise. Part 2 (January 11-13) poses questions identical to Part 1 and addresses new issues, including whether Bush had already decided prior to the January 15 deadline to send troops into battle, whether a Kuwaiti offer to trade part of its territory in exchange for Iraq's withdrawal would be an acceptable resolution to the crisis, whether congressional authorization of the use of force would increase the likelihood of war, how congressmen should vote concerning the authorization of force, what Bush should do if only one house of Congress votes in favor of the use of force, whether the failure of the meeting between Secretary Baker and Iraq's foreign minister on January 9 made war more likely, and more questions related to what might happen in the Persian Gulf in the event of war or otherwise. Part 3 (January 5-7, 17 Panel) replicates both Part 1, the January 5-7 survey, and Part 5, the January 17 survey. It also examines new issues, including whether the United States did the right thing in initiating military action against Iraq, whether the war would last weeks or months, the number of expected American casualties in the war, whether the United States should remove Saddam Hussein from power in addition to driving Iraqi troops out of Kuwait, bombing military targets in heavily populated civilian areas vs. targets not in heavily populated areas, impressions of how the war was proceeding for the United States, how the respondent first heard about the war, perceptions of the main reason why United States forces were fighting in the Persian Gulf, and the reliability of Israel as an ally of the United States. Part 4 (January 17-20 Combined) replicates questions from Part 3, the January 17 survey, and probes new areas, including whether the war to defeat Iraq would be worth the cost in human life and financial resources, whether news that the war had begun made the respondent feel more worried or relieved, whether members of Congress who voted against the use of military force were viewed more/less favorably, FBI interviews of Arab-American business/community leaders, Arab-American sympathy for Iraq, Israeli retaliation for future Iraqi missile attacks, opposition to the war via protest marches/rallies and their effect on the war effort, military/economic aid to Israel, whether the United States military was holding back information about the war, if following the war news had affected the respondent's schedule, and whether the United States was correct to enter the Vietnam War. Questions unique to Part 5 (January 17) include whether the respondent felt proud about the United States' actions in the Persian Gulf, and whether getting Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait or the outcome of the struggle for freedom in the Soviet Union was of more importance to the United States. Questions unique to Part 6 (January 18) include whether Israel should retaliate for future Iraqi missile attacks. Part 7 (January 19) repeats questions from Part 6. Questions asked in Part 8 (January 20) include whether military/economic aid to Israel should be increased. Questions unique to Part 9 (February 12-13) consider whether Iraqi troops could be forced out of Kuwait by continued bombing or if a ground war would be necessary, the timing of the start of a ground war, whether a ground war would be worth the loss of thousands of American troops, the targeting of civilian as well as military locations for bombing, Israel's involvement in the war, continuing to fight until Hussein was removed from power vs. ending the war when Iraqi troops left Kuwait, whether removing Hussein from power would be worth the cost of thousands of American troops, effects of the war on the respondent, the timing of negotiations to end the war, the United States' inflicting excessive damage on Iraq, paying the cost of rebuilding Iraq after the war, the effect of the war on government's ability to function in other areas, and satisfaction with the accuracy and quantity of war-related information. Questions unique to Part 10 (February 24) involve whether the United States was correct to begin the ground war, the anticipated length of the ground war, whether Bush tried hard enough to reach a diplomatic solution before beginning the ground war, whether the United States and Iraq were close to a negotiated settlement before the ground war began, and opinions of Mikhail Gorbachev and his motives in trying to negotiate an end to the war. Questions unique to Part 11 (February 25) examine whether the United States should set up a new government in Iraq if Saddam Hussein was removed from power, whether United States troops should remain in the Gulf after the war to insure stability in the region, the extent to which the people of Iraq were to blame for allowing Saddam Hussein to remain in power, and whether the United States should allow the Kuwaiti royal family to return to its position leading Kuwait after the war.

Curated

CBS News/New York Times/Tokyo Broadcasting System Japan Poll, November 18-21, 1991 (ICPSR 9860)

Released/updated on: 2011-10-20

Time period: 1991-11-18--1991-11-21

This survey, in addition to providing an ongoing evaluation of the Bush presidency, focused on Japan and the Japanese. Respondents were asked whether they approved of George Bush's handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy. Other questions pertained to the amount of attention paid to news about Japan, descriptions of Americans and Japanese as competitive, easygoing, hardworking, lazy, courageous, cowardly, peaceloving, and warlike, relations between Japan and the United States, and the prospects for the future generation of Americans and Japanese. Respondents were also asked if most Japanese respect Americans and vice versa, and if Japan should be viewed as a dependable ally for the United States in the future and vice versa. Other queries centered around whether the increase in Japanese investment in the United States posed a threat to American economic independence, whether Japan had become a world power and should assume responsibilities toward other countries, and whether Japan should act as a leader in the world economy even if it required economic sacrifice on Japan's part. Those surveyed were also asked about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan by the United States, the impetus behind Japan's involvement in World War II, Japan's present military strength, and whether the treaty calling for Japan's provision of bases for United States military forces in return for the United States' defense of Japan should be continued. Additional issues pertaining to Japan and the United States included the question of economic aid to the Soviet Union, military assistance to other countries, whether the United States should have sent troops to fight in the Persian Gulf, and if Japan should have done more to help to defeat Iraq during the war. Other topics included the field of candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination and holiday spending habits. Background information on respondents included labor union membership, political party preference, political orientation, religious preference, education, age, race, and family income.

Curated

CBS News State of the Union Poll, September 1990 (ICPSR 9620)

Released/updated on: 2009-04-24

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-01-27--1990-01-28

This survey focuses on specific issues related to the United States' involvement in the Persian Gulf War, along with general topics such as the Bush presidency, whether the United States was heading in the right direction, foreign policy, Congress, and the economy. Respondents were asked about President Bush's handling of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, if the United States did the right thing by starting military actions against Iraq rather than waiting to see if economic sanctions worked, if there was personal concern over a possible terrorist attack in the United States, whether the war was a mistake, and whether the war was likely to be worth the cost in human life and resources. Respondents also offered opinions regarding their pride or lack of pride in the United States' actions in the Persian Gulf, the expected length of the war and number of casualties, and how the war was going for the United States. In addition, the survey posed a series of questions dealing with media coverage of the war and the possible holding back of information by the military, the involvement of women in ground combat, personal effects of the war on respondents, Israel's response to Iraqi missile attacks, effects of the war on the United States' economy and on the Bush administration's ability to deal with domestic problems, support for Gorbachev vs. support for Lithuania's breaking away from the Soviet Union, Bush's first two years in office compared to Reagan's, Dan Quayle, and the probability of voting for Bush or the Democratic candidate in 1992. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, education, religion, age, race, sex, employment, perspectives on homemaking, family members serving in the Persian Gulf or elsewhere, choice for president in 1988, voter registration status, marital status, and state/region of residence.