Showing 1 – 43 of 43 results.
Curated
ABC News Clinton Statement #2 Poll, August 1998 (ICPSR 2633)
Released/updated on: 1999-02-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the presidency and the August 17, 1998, statement made by President Bill Clinton in which he admitted to having an "inappropriate" relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Respondents were asked for their opinions of President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton and their respective positions. Those queried were also asked to assess Clinton's honesty and trustworthiness, his moral and ethical standards, and his leadership ability. A series of questions addressed the investigation by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr into Clinton's behavior. Questions concerned whether respondents believed that Clinton obstructed justice, whether Clinton should resign, whether Congress should remove him from office, and whether the scandal had damaged Clinton's ability to serve effectively as president. Additional questions called for speculation regarding Starr's motivations, and when Hillary Clinton first knew of her husband's relationship with Lewinsky. Background information on respondents includes political party and sex.
Curated
ABC News Clinton Terrorism Poll, August 1998 (ICPSR 2634)
Released/updated on: 1999-02-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded August 19, 1998, sought respondents' views on the presidency and on the United States' decision, earlier in the day, to launch missile attacks against sites in Afghanistan and Sudan that were suspected to have been used by terrorists who attacked two United States embassies in Africa earlier in the month. Respondents were asked whether they believed that the attacks would prove an effective deterrent against future acts of terrorism, whether they trusted President Bill Clinton to handle the United States' response to terrorism, and whether the attacks were for the purpose of combating terrorism or to shift public attention away from the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Those queried were also asked whether they believed that the situation involving Lewinsky had interfered with Clinton's ability to serve effectively as president. Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News Clinton Videotaped Testimony Poll, September 1998 (ICPSR 2644)
Released/updated on: 1999-02-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded on September 21, 1998, sought respondents' views on the United States Congress's release, earlier that day, of the videotape of President Bill Clinton's August testimony to a grand jury. Their opinions were sought on whether it was right for Congress to have publicly released the videotape, the manner in which Clinton handled himself before the grand jury, and the treatment of Clinton by the prosecutors. A series of items addressed the questions posed to Clinton about the details of his sexual activity with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Covered were Clinton's refusal to discuss the details of that activity, whether the prosecutors were right to ask such questions, Clinton's "anger" about the repeated questions concerning the details, and the respondents' interpretation of the phrase "sexual relations." Those queried were asked for their opinion on Clinton's interpretation of the phrase "sexual relations" to mean only sexual intercourse and not any other kind of sex. Respondents were asked to assess the influence of the videotaped testimony on the American public, and to comment on whether they believed Clinton's responses before the grand jury. In addition, their opinions were sought on whether the president should resign, remain in office, be impeached, or be censured, if it were proven that he either lied under oath, encouraged Lewinsky to lie under oath, or asked his aides or other people to cover up his affair with Lewinsky. Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News "Good Morning America" Starr Report Poll #3, September 1998 (ICPSR 2640)
Released/updated on: 2008-09-11
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded September 13, 1998, sought respondents' views on Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's ongoing investigation of President Bill Clinton and the resulting Starr Report, submitted to the United States Congress on September 10, 1998. Respondents were asked for their opinions on whether Congress should hold hearings about the possible impeachment of Clinton or whether Congress should drop the matter. Those queried were asked whether they believed that the details of sexual encounters between Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky were included in the Starr Report to show that Clinton lied or merely to embarrass him. Respondents were also asked whether they believed that Clinton had done anything illegal regarding the Lewinsky matter and whether the president should resign, be impeached, or be censured if it were proven that he either lied under oath or asked his aides to lie under oath. Those queried were asked for their opinions of the Starr Report and the Clinton response to that report, in which the White House argued against impeachment. Respondents were asked whether they believed Starr or Clinton, whether they believed that the Starr Report was fair or politically motivated, and whether this was more a personal matter for Clinton or a public concern. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Good Morning America." Demographic information on respondents includes sex and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News Kathleen Willey Poll #1, March 1998 (ICPSR 2511)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded on March 16, 1998, sought respondents' views on the presidency and on former White House volunteer Kathleen Willey's charges that President Bill Clinton forced himself on her sexually at a private meeting in 1993. Respondents were asked to rate Clinton in the areas of honesty, personal moral and ethical standards, ability to understand the people, leadership, and ability to keep the economy strong. Those queried were also asked whether they believed Willey's accusations, and whether the public needed to know the truth about her accusations. A series of questions addressed the recent allegations of sexual misconduct facing Clinton. Topics covered the alleged affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, whether Clinton lied under oath when questioned about the scandals, whether he had demonstrated a pattern of sexual misconduct, and the possible punishments that might be imposed upon Clinton if he were found guilty of any wrongdoing. Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News Kathleen Willey Poll #2, March 1998 (ICPSR 2512)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted on March 17, 1998, sought respondents' views on the presidency and on former White House volunteer Kathleen Willey's charges that President Bill Clinton forced himself on her sexually at a private meeting in 1993. Respondents were asked whether they believed that Clinton had forced himself sexually on Willey, and whether it was his private business or a public matter. A series of questions addressed the allegations of sexual misconduct facing Clinton in general. Topics covered the alleged affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, whether Clinton had lied under oath when questioned about the scandals, whether he had demonstrated a pattern of sexual misconduct, and the possible punishments that might be imposed upon Clinton if he were found guilty of any wrongdoing. Respondents were also queried as to which allegation was more serious, that Clinton forced himself sexually on Willey or that he had an affair with Lewinsky. Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News Lewinsky/Starr Poll, September 1998 (ICPSR 2636)
Released/updated on: 2008-09-10
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 9, 1998, sought respondents' views on the presidency and the ongoing investigation by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr into President Bill Clinton's statements under oath regarding his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Respondents were asked for their opinions on Clinton's trustworthiness, his ability to handle the nation's business, and his personal lifestyle, and whether they believed that Clinton did anything illegal in connection with the Lewinsky matter. Respondents were also asked about what they thought would be an appropriate resolution to the matter if it were determined that Clinton had had an affair and lied about it under oath, or if he had had an affair and encouraged Lewinsky to lie about it under oath. Possible resolutions to the matter included Clinton's resignation, impeachment by Congress, and a censure or official reprimand by Congress. Respondents were asked whether they believed that this scandal had damaged Clinton's ability to serve effectively as president. In addition, a series of questions addressed the motivation, handling, and future of the Starr investigation. A final question asked respondents whether they believed that Clinton's personal behavior was separate from his political behavior. Demographic information includes sex and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" Starr Report Poll #4, September 1998 (ICPSR 2641)
Released/updated on: 2008-09-26
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded on September 13, 1998,
sought respondents' views on Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's
ongoing investigation of President Bill Clinton and the resulting
"Starr Report," submitted to the United States Congress on September
10, 1998. Respondents were asked whether they trusted Clinton on a
personal level, and their opinions were sought regarding Clinton's
honesty, trustworthiness, moral and ethical standards, and leadership
ability. They were also asked to comment on whether the president
should remain in office, resign, be impeached, or be censured, if it
were proven that he either lied under oath, encouraged former White
House intern Monica Lewinsky to lie under oath, or asked aides to
cover up his affair with Lewinsky. Those queried were asked for their
opinions of the Starr Report and the Clinton response to that report,
in which the White House argued against impeachment. Other items
probed for whether respondents believed Starr or Clinton, whether they
believed that the investigation had been fair or politically
motivated, and whether the investigation was about sex or serious
lawbreaking. In addition, respondents were asked whether they believed
that Congress should hold hearings, and whether the inclusion of the
sexual details of Clinton and Lewinsky's relationship were included in
the report as evidence or to embarrass the president. The results of
the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline."
Background information on respondents includes sex, age, race, political
party affiliation, and education level.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" State of the Union Poll, January 1998 (ICPSR 2509)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the January 28, 1998, State of the Union Address delivered by President Bill Clinton. Those queried were asked whether they approved of Clinton's message and whether they believed that Clinton possessed the honesty and integrity to serve as president. Respondents were also asked whether they believed the allegations of an affair between Clinton and 21-year old former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, how the allegations would impact Clinton's presidency, whether they believed that Clinton would be able to accomplish most of the proposals that he set forth in the State of the Union Address, and whether there was a right wing conspiracy working against Clinton. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes political party and sex.
Curated
ABC News Starr Report Poll #1, September 1998 (ICPSR 2638)
Released/updated on: 2008-10-24
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded on September 11, 1998, sought respondents' views on Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's ongoing investigation of President Bill Clinton and the resulting "Starr Report," submitted to the United States Congress on September 10, 1998. Respondents were asked whether they believed that Clinton had done anything illegal regarding the Lewinsky matter. Their opinions were sought on whether the president should resign, be impeached, or be censured if it were proven that he either lied under oath, encouraged former White House intern Monica Lewinsky to lie under oath, or asked aides to lie under oath. Those queried were also asked for their opinions of the Starr Report and the Clinton response to that report, in which the White House argued against impeachment. Respondents were asked whether they believed Starr or Clinton, whether they believed that the Starr Report was fair or politically motivated, and whether this was more a personal matter for Clinton or a public concern. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Clinton Scandal/Iraq Poll, February 1998 (ICPSR 2510)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the presidency, the alleged affair between President Bill Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and United States relations with Iraq. Respondents were asked to assess Clinton in the following areas: honesty, personal moral and ethical standards, understanding of the problems of the American people, leadership, and ability to keep the economy strong. A series of questions addressed the alleged affair between Clinton and Lewinsky. Topics covered the overall importance of the allegations to the American people, independent counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation and motives, and whether the public believed that the affair took place. Iraq's recent pattern of interference with the United Nations' weapons inspection team was addressed as well. Topics covered possible United States responses to that behavior, including bombings and a ground invasion, the potential loss of American lives, the future of diplomacy between the United States and Iraq, Clinton's foreign policy, and whether the United States should force Saddam Hussein from power. Background information on respondents includes age, race, ethnicity, sex, education, political party, and family income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Impeachment Poll, December 1998 (ICPSR 2709)
Released/updated on: 1999-06-23
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded December 15, 1998, sought respondents' views on the upcoming vote by the United States House of Representatives to impeach President Bill Clinton. Those queried were asked whether they believed that the House should impeach or censure Clinton and, if Clinton were impeached, whether the Senate should vote to remove him from office. Respondents were asked for their impression of Clinton as a person, how they would feel if Clinton were removed from office, whether Clinton's actions were serious enough to warrant his removal from office, and whether this situation was Clinton's fault or merely a case of his critics taking advantage of his slip. Additional topics covered the correlation between a representative's vote on the impeachment of Clinton and his/her constituents' choice in the next Congressional election, and whether Clinton should resign or fight the charges if he were impeached. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, education, and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Lewinsky/Politics Poll, September 1998 (ICPSR 2643)
Released/updated on: 1999-02-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, the economy, and foreign affairs. Those queried were also asked to provide opinions on the United States Congress, the operation of the federal government, and the upcoming November 1998 elections. Respondents were asked to compare the Democratic and Republican platforms in the following areas: the economy, crime, foreign affairs, education, the middle class, taxes, the federal budget, Social Security, Medicare, health care, moral leadership, and dealing with the Monica Lewinsky matter. They were asked to consider the importance given to those issues and the role of Clinton's affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky in their upcoming electoral decisions. Those queried were asked whether they believed that Clinton should remain in office, resign, be impeached, or be censured, if it were determined that he lied under oath or encouraged others to do so. If they answered that Clinton should not be impeached, respondents were asked to explain further. Respondents were asked to describe how impeachment hearings should be carried out, if they were held. Additional topics covered the motivation of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and Congress regarding the Lewinsky investigation, and whether respondents believed that this scandal had damaged Clinton's ability to serve effectively as president. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, education, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, marital status, religion, family income, and age of children in household.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 2001 (ICPSR 3193)
Released/updated on: 2001-06-27
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 2001-01-11--2001-01-15
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. It was fielded January 11-15, 2001, just prior to the end of the Bill Clinton presidency. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the economy, foreign affairs, race relations, the welfare system, crime, and the health care system. A series of questions focused on Clinton and his presidency, including whether Clinton was honest and trustworthy, possessed high personal moral and ethical standards, understood the problems of the American people, had kept the economy strong, had been a strong leader, how he would go down in history, whether the House of Representatives was right to impeach him, and whether he should be charged with a crime for giving false testimony in 1999 regarding his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Respondents were asked which of the following issues should be given the highest priority by incoming president George W. Bush and Congress: maintaining a strong economy, protecting the Social Security system, holding down the costs of health care/health insurance, keeping the federal budget balanced, reducing the use of illegal drugs, reforming campaign finance laws, reducing political partisanship in Washington, DC, raising pay and benefits for military personnel, improving opportunities for women and minorities, cutting taxes, improving education, expanding health care coverage, helping the elderly pay for prescription drugs, protecting the environment, upgrading military systems and equipment, banning partial-birth abortions, establishing uniform standards for presidential elections, and improving race relations. A series of questions focused on the incoming Bush administration. Respondent views were sought on Bush's nomination of John Ashcroft for attorney general, Bush's nomination of Gale Norton for secretary of the interior, whether Bush was legitimately elected as president, whether Bush had a mandate to carry out his campaign promises, what type of president Bush would be, and Bush's handling of the presidential transition. Those queried were also asked whether they thought Bush would work for or against the following interest groups: labor unions, large corporations, the poor, the wealthy, the middle class, women's rights groups, the military, environmental groups, religious conservatives, Blacks or African-Americans, Hispanics, other racial and ethnic minorities, and white males. A series of questions on the economy covered whether the economy was headed toward a recession, respondent stock investments, whether stock investments were safe, whether the market would go up or down next year, whether changes in the stock market personally affected the respondent, and what type of tax cut they would prefer. Additional topics covered respondent views on homosexuals serving in the military, gun control laws, abortion, school voucher programs, the construction of a missile defense system, drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, energy conservation vs. finding new energy sources, preferential treatment of minorities and women, tobacco companies, and mad cow disease. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter participation history, education, race, Hispanic origin, labor union membership, household income, and whether the respondent ate beef.
Curated
ABC News "World News Tonight" Starr Report Poll #5, September 1998 (ICPSR 2642)
Released/updated on: 2008-11-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded on September 14, 1998, sought respondents' views on Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's ongoing investigation of President Bill Clinton and the resulting "Starr Report," submitted to the United States Congress on September 10, 1998. Opinions were elicited on whether the president should remain in office, resign, be impeached, or be censured, if it were proven that he either lied under oath or encouraged former White House intern Monica Lewinsky to lie under oath. Respondents were asked whether they believed Starr or Clinton, whether they believed that the investigation had been fair or politically motivated, and whether the investigation was about sex or serious lawbreaking. Those queried were also asked whether they believed that Clinton's behavior in the Lewinsky affair was separate from his ability to govern. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "World News Tonight." Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ANES 1998 Time Series Study (ICPSR 35145)
Released/updated on: 2014-05-19
Geographic coverage: United States
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. Substantive themes of the 1998 election study include, among others, knowledge and evaluation of the House candidates and placement of the candidates on various issue dimensions, interest in the political campaigns, attentiveness to the media's coverage of the campaign, media use, evaluation of the mass media, vote choice, partisanship, and evaluations of the political parties and the party system. Additional items focused on political participation, political mobilization, evaluations of the president and Congress, the "Lewinsky affair," egalitarianism, moral traditionalism, political trust, political efficacy, ideology, cultural pluralism, and political knowledge. Respondents were also asked about their attitudes toward a wide range of issues, including social policy, race policy, military and foreign policy, immigration, foreign imports, prayer in schools, school vouchers, the environment, the death penalty, women's rights, abortion, and religion and politics, including new measures of explicitly political and religious orientations. Demographic items such as age, sex, nationality, marital status, employment status, occupation, and education were also included.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
ANES 1998 Time Series Study (ICPSR 2684)
Released/updated on: 2016-03-28
Geographic coverage: United States
This study is part of a time-series collection of national surveys fielded continuously 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. Substantive themes of the 1998 election study include, among others, knowledge and evaluation of the House candidates and placement of the candidates on various issue dimensions, interest in the political campaigns, attentiveness to the media's coverage of the campaign, media use, evaluation of the mass media, vote choice, partisanship, and evaluations of the political parties and the party system. Additional items focused on political participation, political mobilization, evaluations of the president and Congress, the "Lewinsky affair," egalitarianism, moral traditionalism, political trust, political efficacy, ideology, cultural pluralism, and political knowledge. Respondents were also asked about their attitudes toward a wide range of issues, including social policy, racial policy, military and foreign policy, immigration, foreign imports, prayer in schools, school vouchers, the environment, the death penalty, women's rights, abortion, as well as religion and politics, including new measures of explicitly political and religious orientations. Demographic variables include respondent's age, sex, nationality, marital status, employment status, occupation, and education.
Curated
CBS News Call-back Poll, February 1998 (ICPSR 2460)
Released/updated on: 1999-03-25
Geographic coverage: United States
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 to this survey were recontacted after participating in CBS NEWS MONTHLY POLL #2, FEBRUARY 1998 (ICPSR 2459). Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the situation with Iraq, as well as their views of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. A series of questions focused on the potential use of the United States Air Force to bomb Iraq if Saddam Hussein refused to comply with United Nations regulations. Other topics covered British support of, and French and Russian opposition to, the proposed air strikes, whether more time should be given to the diplomatic efforts of the United Nations, and whether controlling Hussein was worth the loss of American lives should a ground war result. Regarding the Starr investigation into the alleged affair between former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton, respondents were asked whether they believed that an affair took place, whether the investigation had truly been impartial, whether the public really needed to know anything about the scandal, and whether an individual is ever justified in secretly tape-recording a conversation. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, ethnicity, political party, political orientation, marital status, education, family income, voter registration and participation history, and age of children in the household.
Curated
CBS News Call-Back Poll, January 1998 (ICPSR 2457)
Released/updated on: 1999-04-26
Geographic coverage: United States
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. This survey, fielded January 28, 1998, is a call-back of the January 24-25, 1998 (CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES MONTHLY POLL #5, JANUARY 1998 [ICPSR 2455]), and the January 26, 1998 (CBS NEWS MONTHLY POLL #6, JANUARY 1998 [ICPSR 2456]), cohorts. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Those queried were also asked whether they believed that Clinton had an affair with Lewinsky and encouraged her to lie about the relationship under oath, and whether they believed Clinton's statement that he did not have "sexual relations" with Lewinsky. Respondents were asked for their opinions on the White House's handling of this situation, the media's handling of the story, the possible presence of a right-wing conspiracy, and whether this scandal would interfere with Clinton's ability to serve as an effective president. An additional question sought respondents' views on the use of the United States Air Force against Iraq, in the event of Iraq's continuing to restrict United Nations weapons inspectors. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, religion, ethnicity, family income, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, marital status, employment status, age of children in household, and whether the respondent watched the January 27, 1998, State of the Union address.
Curated
CBS News Call-Back Poll, November 1998 (ICPSR 2670)
Released/updated on: 1999-03-18
Geographic coverage: United States
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. This survey, fielded November 19, 1998, is a call-back of the November 16-17, 1998, cohort (CBS NEWS MONTHLY POLL #2, NOVEMBER 1998 [ICPSR 2669]). Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, and House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde. Respondents were also asked if they had viewed any of the televised House Judiciary Committee impeachment inquiry, which began earlier in the day. Those queried were asked for their views on Starr and his testimony, and whether they learned anything new from watching the inquiry. Respondents were asked whether they believed that Democrats and Republicans were capable of working together in a nonpartisan manner during the hearings, whether the inquiry was more about crime or about politics, and what the motives were behind the questioning. Views were also sought on which of the possible outcomes of the impeachment inquiry would be best for the country. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, education, religion, political party, political orientation, voter participation history, marital status, age of children in household, family income, and computer access.
Curated
CBS News Monthly Poll #1, August 1998 (ICPSR 2604)
Released/updated on: 2009-12-08
Geographic coverage: United States
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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy, as well as their opinions of Vice President Al Gore and First Lady Hillary Clinton. In light of the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, those queried were asked what they believed the bombings meant for the future of terrorist attacks, and whether they believed that the United States government could do anything to reduce terrorist attacks against American citizens. A series of questions addressed the claims that President Clinton had an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and then encouraged her to lie about the relationship under oath. Topics covered the importance of the allegations to the nation, what aspect of the allegations was most bothersome, who was to blame for the current situation, whether this was a public or private matter, and whether lying was ever justified. Respondents were asked whether they thought it was necessary for Clinton to make a public statement following his upcoming August 17, 1998, testimony before the grand jury, how they thought Clinton should be punished if he did obstruct justice, and how these claims had damaged the institution of the United States presidency. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, ethnicity, political party, political orientation, religion, education, marital status, voter registration and participation history, and age of children in household.
Curated
CBS News Monthly Poll #1, February 1998 (ICPSR 2458)
Released/updated on: 2011-01-04
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted February 1, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, his moral values, his handling of the situation with Iraq, and his handling of the recent allegations concerning a sexual affair and obstruction of justice involving former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Opinions were also sought regarding the United States Congress, First Lady Hillary Clinton, independent counsel Kenneth Starr, and Lewinsky. A series of questions addressed the sexual harassment charges brought by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones against then-Arkansas Governor Clinton. Respondents were asked whether these allegations would interfere with Clinton's ability to govern, who was to blame for the creation of these situations, media coverage of the Jones and Lewinsky stories, Starr's investigation, and whether Clinton should resign if he is not impeached. Other items probed for respondents' views on the death penalty, specifically women and the death penalty, Texas death row inmate Karla Faye Tucker, and whether sentences should be reduced in situations where the prisoner has been rehabilitated. Additional questions focused on the use of United States military force to make Iraq comply with United Nations guidelines. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education, political party affiliation, political philosophy, marital status, religious preference, voter registration and participation history, household income, and presence of children in the household.
Curated
CBS News Monthly Poll #2, December 1998 (ICPSR 2673)
Released/updated on: 2010-03-05
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded December 16, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, the economy, and the situation with Iraq. Those queried were also asked for their opinions on the Clinton impeachment inquiry, including how they would like their representative to vote, whether Clinton's actions were serious enough to warrant impeachment, and what the best outcome would be for the country. A series of questions focused on the United States' use of the Air Force to bomb targets in Iraq after Iraq failed to comply with the agreement to allow United Nations weapons inspections. Topics covered whether the United States would ultimately use military force against Iraq, whether getting Saddam Hussein to cooperate was worth the potential loss of American lives, and whether the strikes, if used, should continue until Hussein complied or was removed from office. Respondents were asked for their opinions on the House of Representatives' decision to delay the start of the impeachment debate because of the situation with Iraq, and the timing of Hussein's refusal to comply with the United Nations agreement. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, political party, political orientation, Hispanic descent, and family income.
Curated
CBS News Monthly Poll #2, February 1998 (ICPSR 2459)
Released/updated on: 2011-01-17
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted February 8, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Clinton, and independent counsel Kenneth Starr. A series of questions focused on the alleged affair between former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton. Topics covered the overall importance of this situation to the American people, media coverage of the scandal, Starr's investigation, whether this investigation was interfering with Clinton's ability to govern, whether Clinton and Lewinsky actually engaged in a sexual affair, and whether Clinton encouraged Lewinsky or anyone else to lie to cover up the affair. Those queried were also asked if they were really interested in Clinton's sex life, and what they believed should happen to Clinton if the allegations were true. Respondents were also asked for their opinions on Clinton's handling of the situation with Iraq, specifically if air strikes should be used to force Iraq to comply with United Nations regulations and whether the Allies should be consulted before air strikes began. A final set of questions asked whether lying in general was ever justified or necessary, whether respondents knew anyone who had cheated on their spouse, and whether public officials were currently more likely to commit adultery or if the media just reported on it more often. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, marital status, household income, voter registration and participation history, and the presence and ages of children in the household.
Curated
CBS News Monthly Poll #2, March 1998 (ICPSR 2464)
Released/updated on: 2010-04-30
Geographic coverage: United States
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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, as well as their views of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan. Those queried were also asked what they felt were the parameters of executive privilege, and to comment on the level of confidentiality that protects discussions between White House aides and the President and First Lady. A series of questions focused on the sexual misconduct allegations against President Clinton, involving former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Specific questions addressed the latest claims of sexual misconduct alleged by Kathleen Willey, the importance of these allegations to the American people, and what should happen to Clinton if the claims were proven to be true. Additional topics covered people who worked on Wall Street, trying juvenile criminals as adults, honesty in public office, national evening news broadcasts, and "60 Minutes" correspondent Andy Rooney. Opinions were also elicited on the installation of video surveillance cameras as a crime deterrent, whether a thief could obtain personal information on the respondent, and the accessibility of computers and electronic mail. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, ethnicity, religion, political party, political orientation, family income, voter registration and participation history, age of children in household, personal knowledge of someone with AIDS, and personal investment in the stock market.
Curated
CBS News Monthly Poll #2, November 1998 (ICPSR 2669)
Released/updated on: 2010-03-26
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded November 16-17, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the situation with Iraq, as well as their views on the United States Congress, Vice President Al Gore, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Their views were sought on the weekend decision by the United States to delay the launch of air strikes against Iraq after Saddam Hussein promised unconditional access to United Nations weapons inspections teams. Respondents were asked whether they believed Hussein's promise, whether air strikes would be an appropriate immediate reaction if Iraq failed to keep that promise, whether the goal of insuring that Iraq does not possess weapons of mass destruction was worth the possible loss of American lives, and whether air strikes, if launched, should continue until Hussein complied or was removed from office. A series of questions addressed the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry. Topics covered the scope of the inquiry, whether members of opposing political parties would work together, and who was to blame if they did not. A series of questions addressed the November 3, 1998, congressional elections, including whether respondents voted, the political party make-up of the incoming Congress, and whether the election could be described as a national referendum on the Clinton presidency. Respondents were asked whether they listened to any part of the 20 hours of audio tapes of former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and Pentagon employee Linda Tripp's telephone conversations, released November 17, 1998. A final topic addressed the November 22, 1963, assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Respondents were asked whether they believed that Lee Harvey Oswald was solely responsible, whether an official cover-up occurred, and if the public will ever know the whole story. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, education, religion, political party, political orientation, voter participation history, marital status, age of children in household, family income, and computer access.
Curated
CBS News Monthly Poll #3, February 1998 (ICPSR 2461)
Released/updated on: 2009-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
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 give their opinions on President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, the economy and the situation with Iraq, Vice President Al Gore, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, independent counsel Kenneth Starr, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Attorney General Janet Reno, the United States Congress, and their district's congressional representative. Those queried were asked what they felt was the greatest problem facing the country today, and to assess the state of the economy. A series of questions focused on the refusal by Saddam Hussein to comply with the United Nations' imposed weapons inspections. Respondents were asked whether they supported United States' military air strikes to force compliance, whether Clinton has sufficiently explained the situation to the American people, whether more time should be devoted to diplomatic efforts, and the role of British, French, and Russian support in United States decision-making regarding Iraq. Additional questions on this topic asked respondents to compare the aftermath of the 1991 Persian Gulf War to the current crisis, specifically Gulf War Syndrome and the use of biological or chemical agents, whether the United States should continue fighting until Hussein is removed from office, and the respondent's fear of possible terrorist attacks. The alleged affair between former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton was addressed, with questions focusing on whether the two actually engaged in an affair and whether Clinton encouraged Lewinsky to lie under oath. Additional topics covered Starr's investigation, the overall importance of this scandal to the American people, media coverage and responsibility, and what should happen to Clinton if the allegations are proven true. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, ethnicity, religion, political party, political orientation, family income, marital status, employment status, voter registration and participation history, and personal and family member service in the Armed Forces.
Curated
CBS News Monthly Poll #6, January 1998 (ICPSR 2456)
Released/updated on: 2010-02-24
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded January 26, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, particularly in light of claims that he had had an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Respondents were queried as to how closely they had followed the story of the alleged affair, how important an issue they thought it was, whether it would interfere with the president's effectiveness in office and his ability to achieve his policy goals for the current year, whether they believed Clinton's denial of the affair given earlier in the day, and whether that response had made the situation better or worse for him. Opinions were elicited concerning who was to blame for the situation--the president or his political enemies, whether Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation of the president was impartial or partisan, and whether Clinton should resign from office, or whether discussion of his resignation should be deferred until all of the facts were in. Respondents were also asked how the Lewinsky story would affect the upcoming presidential State of the Union speech, whether they were planning to watch the speech, whether they were more likely to watch it in light of the Lewinsky matter, and whether it would be better for the speech to be postponed. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, political party, political orientation, recent voting history, age of children in the household, and family income.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, April 1998 (ICPSR 2544)
Released/updated on: 2009-11-13
Geographic coverage: United States
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. This survey, administered to youths aged 13-17, solicited opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency. The teens were also asked to comment on the greatest problem facing their generation, racial problems in their schools and communities, the presence of sexual activity, alcohol, drugs, and tobacco in the school system, and how frequently they read the newspaper and watched television. A series of questions covered the topic of sex, specifically, whether respondents believed it was okay to engage in premarital sex, whether condoms should be distributed in school, and how they felt about same-sex relations. In addition, respondents were asked about their relationships with their parents, including the ability of their parents to relate to them, pressures placed on them by their parents, how often a parent was actually in the home with them, and whether they communicated with their parents about difficult topics, including sex and the use of alcohol and drugs. A series of questions addressed issues and problems in the student's school. Topics covered cheating, teenage drivers, part-time employment, the use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana, computer access, beeper/pager ownership, body-piercing, sex, tattoos, suicide, HIV virus/AIDS, firearms, racial relations, sexual harassment, and homosexuality. Respondents were asked for their opinions on trying juveniles as adults in the legal system and on the alleged affair between President Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Respondents were also asked about their self-image, their involvement in extracurricular and volunteer activities, whether they received an allowance, whether they played a musical instrument, and what their post-high school plans were. Background information on respondents includes age, race, ethnicity, sex, political party, religion, number of siblings, demographics of the school attended, grade in school, and the education level, marital status, and employment status of the parents.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, December 1998 (ICPSR 2672)
Released/updated on: 2010-01-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded December 13-15, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency and foreign policy, as well as their views of the United States Congress, Vice President Al Gore, House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, and the Republican and Democratic parties. Those queried were asked if they believed that Clinton had said enough regarding his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, whether their affair was a public or a private matter, and whether Clinton could be trusted. A series of questions addressed the Judiciary Committee's December 12, 1998, vote to send the four articles of impeachment to the full House of Representatives for a vote. Topics covered the committee's handling of the inquiry, whether respondents believed that Clinton committed perjury or obstructed justice, whether they had watched any part of the hearings, how they viewed the party-line vote that resulted, and how the decision made them feel. Their views were also sought on how they wanted their representative to vote on the articles of impeachment, what the outcome should be if the House sent the articles to the Senate and a trial were held, whether Clinton's actions warranted impeachment, and the impact that a Senate impeachment trial would have on the nation and the economy. In addition, respondents were asked whether they believed that federal prosecutors should charge and prosecute Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice after he left office, whether it was more important for a president to be a role model or an effective leader, and whether Clinton could still be an effective president. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, religion, political party, political orientation, marital status, voter registration and participation history, Hispanic descent, and family income.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, March 1998 (ICPSR 2462)
Released/updated on: 2009-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the situation with Iraq, independent counsel Kenneth Starr, and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. A series of questions focused on United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan's agreement with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to allow inspectors full access to search for weapons of mass destruction. Respondents were asked if they believed that Hussein would honor that promise, whether they believed that economic sanctions should be lifted if Iraq cooperated, whether they supported United States Air Force bombing of Iraq if they did not comply, and whether they believed that United Nations diplomatic efforts or United States military threats were most effective when dealing with Iraq. Those queried were asked for their opinions on New York City as a place to live and visit, crime in that city as compared to other large cities, whether New York City was accurately portrayed on television and in the movies, and for their personal experiences while visiting or residing in New York City. President Clinton's alleged affairs with former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky were also addressed. Respondents were asked whom they believed, whether Clinton encouraged anyone to lie while under oath, who was to blame for creating this situation, and what result the investigations should produce, including resignation, impeachment, admission and the issuance of an apology, or if the entire investigation should be dropped. Additional questions addressed the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by James Earl Ray. A final series of questions asked respondents to assess life in the United States in the 21st century. Topics covered the future of terrorism, religion, spirituality, race relations, equality for minorities, poverty, environmental problems, free time, contact with intelligent life on other planets, and belief in Armageddon. Background information on respondents includes age, race, ethnicity, education, religion, political party, political orientation, family income, voter registration and participation history, and age of children in the household.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #2, September 1998 (ICPSR 2608)
Released/updated on: 2010-06-23
Geographic coverage: United States
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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his leadership, the United States Congress, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. A series of questions was asked about the relationship between Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, including the importance of the matter to the nation, whether Clinton had said enough on the topic, whether it was a public or a private matter, who was to blame for the situation, whether the respondent thought that Clinton encouraged Lewinsky to lie about their relationship, and what should happen to him if he did obstruct justice. Regarding the Independent Counsel's report on the Clinton investigation, released on September 11, 1998, respondents were asked about the extent to which they had read or heard about the report, the fairness of the report, whether it was appropriate to include graphic sexual details about Clinton and Lewinsky's relationship, the Independent Counsel's motivation for doing so, whether releasing the report was the "right" thing to do, the report's lack of mention of the Whitewater investigation, and the influence of the report. Respondents were asked whether they believed that the United States House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee should hold hearings to determine whether to impeach Clinton, whether that committee should release the videotape of Clinton's testimony, and whether the nation had faith in Congress to do the right thing. Additional topics covered the effect of the scandal on Congress, on the Clinton administration, on Clinton's ability to represent the United States abroad, and on the November 1998 election, as well as whether school teachers should discuss the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal with their students. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, ethnicity, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, marital status, employment status, family income, age of children in the household, personal use of a computer, and access to the Starr report on the Internet.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #3, August 1998 (ICPSR 2606)
Released/updated on: 2010-06-23
Geographic coverage: United States
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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, his integrity, his leadership skills, and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy. Respondents' views were also sought regarding Vice President Al Gore, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Respondents were asked to state their opinions on Clinton's August 17, 1998, admission before a grand jury that he had had an affair with Lewinsky. Those queried were also asked if they found it understandable why Clinton did not tell the truth in January 1998 when initially asked about the affair, and whether they felt it was more serious for the president to lie about national policy issues or about his sexual behavior. An additional series of questions was asked regarding the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal, including the overall importance of this situation to the nation, whether it was a public or private matter, and who was to blame for creating and prolonging the matter. Respondents were asked whether they believed Mrs. Clinton's defense of her husband prior to August 17, 1998, and whether they believed that she did not know the whole story until the weekend prior to Clinton's testimony. Additional questions covered the possible punishments that Clinton might encounter, whether this scandal had damaged the institution of the United States presidency, whether the Whitewater investigation should be dropped, and whether Clinton was guilty in the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, ethnicity, political party, political orientation, religion, education, marital status, voter registration and participation history, family income, and age of children in household.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #3, October 1998 (ICPSR 2665)
Released/updated on: 2010-09-10
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded October 12-13, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy, as well as their views on the United States Congress, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde. Those queried were asked whether they planned to vote in the upcoming November 1998 congressional elections, for which party's candidates they intended to vote, what issue was most influential in terms of their electoral decisions, the impact that the Clinton scandal would have on their choices, and whether their votes could be viewed as votes for or against Clinton. Respondents were asked for their opinions of the past year's congressional record, specifically, Congress's work in the areas of campaign fundraising, the economy, Social Security/Medicare, patients' rights, and the budget. Those queried were also asked whether Clinton should remain in office, resign, be impeached, or be censured if it were determined that he either lied under oath about his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, or asked her to lie under oath about their relationship. A series of questions was posed about the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry. Topics covered the length of the inquiry, whether Republicans and Democrats would be able to work together in a nonpartisan manner, and whether this inquiry and the prior investigation were sound uses of time, effort, and money. Additional questions addressed the impact of the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal on Congress and on the Clinton administration, and whether Clinton could still be an effective president. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, political party, political orientation, marital status, employment status, voter registration and participation history, religion, education, family income, and age of children in household.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #4, January 1999 (ICPSR 2720)
Released/updated on: 2009-04-29
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1999-01-30--1999-02-01
This poll, fielded January 30-February 1, 1999, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, the United States Congress, Vice President Al Gore, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr, former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and the Republican and Democratic parties. Respondents were next asked a series of questions comparing the two main political parties, including which party had better ideas for both solving the nation's current problems and for leading the country into the 21st century, as well as which party was better at upholding traditional family values. Opinions were also elicited as to which party was the more likely to make the right decisions about Social Security, to improve education and the health care system, and to reduce taxes and crime. Respondents were also asked how they would recommend that Congress use the budget surplus projected over the coming years, including cutting taxes, paying down the national debt, and preserving programs like Medicare and Social Security. Particular emphasis was given in this poll to the Senate impeachment trial of President Clinton. Respondents were queried as to how closely they were following the news of the trial, whether they approved of the Senate's handling of the matter, and what their expectations were for the length of the trial. Opinions were elicited on the need for witness testimony, whether President Clinton's actions were serious enough to warrant removal from office, and the constitutional necessity of a final Senate vote. Other questions focused on each political party's role in the impeachment matter, whether the parties were working in a partisan manner, whether the parties' actions would help or hurt their respective images and prospects in the 2000 election, and whether House or Senate members of each party handled themselves more responsibly. Respondents were also asked whether they had learned anything new from the trial, whether the Senate should take into account public opinion when making their decisions, how the respondent wanted his or her senator to vote, and whether the respondents cared about the outcome. Finally, respondents were asked for their predictions as to whether President Clinton would be removed from office and, if not, whether he could still remain effective as president. Attention was also directed toward the Republican party, in terms of whether it was out of touch with the American people--or even rank and file Republicans--on the impeachment matter, and whether the party was too conservative. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, religion, marital status, political party, political orientation, recent voting history, and family income.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #4, October 1998 (ICPSR 2666)
Released/updated on: 2010-11-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded October 26-28, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy, as well as their views on the United States Congress, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, the Democratic party, and the Republican party. Those queried were asked whether they intended to vote in the upcoming November 1998 congressional elections, for which party's candidates they intended to vote, whether their congressional representative deserved to be reelected, and whether government would work better if all new people were elected that year. Respondents were asked which party they felt would make the right decisions regarding Medicare, education, crime, family values, health care reform, the needs of families, Social Security, and leading the country into the 21st century. Their views were sought on whether Clinton should remain in office, resign, be impeached, or be censured if it were proven that he either lied under oath about his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, or asked her to lie under oath about their relationship. Additional questions on this topic covered the manner in which the House Judiciary Committee was handling the impeachment matter, whether the situation was a crime or "politics", whether respondents had communicated with their congressional representatives regarding the matter, and whether the "Clinton factor" would play a role when they voted for Congress. Additional questions addressed the National Basketball Association labor dispute, including which side was right, the players or the owners, and whether the dispute had affected respondents' interest in professional basketball. Additional questions covered United States spending on space exploration programs, including the upcoming space mission involving John Glenn, and whether the respondent would travel to space if given the opportunity. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, political party, political orientation, religion, education, voter registration and participation history, marital status, family income, financial status, age of children in household, and political radio show listening history.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #4, September 1998 (ICPSR 2611)
Released/updated on: 2010-08-27
Geographic coverage: United States
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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, his leadership, and his morals, the United States Congress, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde. Respondents were asked whether they intended to vote in the upcoming 1998 congressional elections, how much attention they had paid to the campaigns, and whether their electoral behavior had been influenced by the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal. A series of questions were asked about the relationship between Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Those queried were asked how closely they had followed the investigation, whether the relationship was a public or a private matter, whether Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation had been impartial, whether Clinton encouraged Lewinsky to lie under oath, and what should happen to Clinton if it was proven that he obstructed justice. A series of questions addressed the videotape of Clinton's testimony before a grand jury that was released to the public September 21, 1998. Topics covered the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee's decision to release the tape, how much of the tape respondents had watched, whether Clinton appeared to be cooperative during his testimony, and whether it was appropriate for the lawyers to ask about specific details of Clinton's sexual relationship with Lewinsky. Respondents were also asked a series of questions about the ramifications of this scandal. Topics covered whether Clinton would resign, be impeached, or censured, whether impeachment hearings should be held, who was to blame for Congress' inability to work in a nonpartisan manner, the scandal's effect on the Clinton administration and the congressional agenda, and whether Clinton could still be an effective president. An additional question addressed the Major League Baseball race to win the homerun title. Respondents were asked whether they wanted Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals or Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs to win, or for the race to end in a tie. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, religion, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, marital status, employment status, family income, and age of children in the household.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #5, January 1998 (ICPSR 2455)
Released/updated on: 2010-10-27
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded January 24-25, 1998, 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 give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, moral values, and the economy, as well as their views of the United States Congress, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. Those queried were asked whether President Clinton had followed through in the following goals of his administration: improving the economy, providing health insurance for everyone, reforming the welfare system, reducing crime, improving race relations, and improving education. Other questions probed for respondents' opinions on former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton, the pending trial from that claim, the alleged affair between Clinton and then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky, the national importance of that allegation, and the media coverage of these scandals. Additional topics covered whether Clinton had exhibited a pattern of sexual affairs while in public office, whether he was guilty of obstructing justice, how these allegations compared to Watergate, and whether Kenneth Starr was conducting an impartial investigation. Background information on respondents includes age, race, education, religion, ethnicity, family income, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, marital status, employment status, financial status, and age of children in household.
Curated
News Story Characteristics from Scandal News, 1986-1998: [United States] (ICPSR 2990)
Released/updated on: 2001-02-23
Geographic coverage: United States
These data examine features of news coverage, through the content analysis of transcripts and newspaper articles, describing four scandals that broke during the 1980s and 1990s to ascertain the difference between news coverage in the two decades. Articles and broadcast transcripts were drawn from three sources: THE NEW YORK TIMES, ABC News, and CNN News. Coverage of the following four scandals were analyzed: the Iran-Contra affair (President Reagan and his staff's alleged illegal sale of weapons to Iran and the use of that profit to aid Nicaraguan rebels), Gary Hart's affair (presidential candidate accused of having an affair with model Donna Rice), Clinton fundraising (President Clinton and the Democratic National Party accused of illegally soliciting campaign contributions for the president's reelection bid), and the Monica Lewinsky affair (President Clinton accused of having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky). News coverage, from the break of the story to one week following, was coded according to the subject of the story the news source, whether the story was factual, whether it was an analysis or a personal profile, whether the story was critical, sympathetic, or neutral, headline prominence, placement in the news lineup, presence of an "importance phrase", presence of additional issue-oriented stories, length of article/broadcast, whether the story made a prediction, the points of view presented, use of sensationalized words/phrases, number and type of sources, whether the story reported facts from other news sources, whether the story utilized rumors or unconfirmed facts, whether the report introduced a new fact or development, whether a reporter or commentator was consulted in addition to the host (if a broadcast), whether sensitive facts were presented, whether the story was placed in a political context, and whether the story mentioned previous events in the scandal.
Curated
Voter News Service General Election Exit Polls, 1998 (ICPSR 35170)
Released/updated on: 2014-05-08
Geographic coverage: United States
These data were collected through interviews conducted with a national sample of voters and with voters in 42 states as they left their polling places on Election Day, November 2, 1998. National sample respondents were asked a series of questions about their electoral choices, the issues surrounding the elections, and the factors that influenced their decisions. Questions focused on the scandal involving President Bill Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, the fate of Clinton's term, the state and future of the nation's economy, the direction of the country, and the upcoming 2000 presidential election. Background information on national respondents includes age, race, sex, Hispanic descent, age of children in household, marital status, political party, political orientation, employment status, education, religion, and family income. For the data collected from the individual state surveys interviews were conducted in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In addition, telephone surveys of absentee/early voters were conducted in California, Oregon, and Washington. Respondents were asked for their opinions on Clinton and the United States Congress, as well as for their vote choices in the relevant gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional elections. Those queried were also asked whether they supported state-specific proposals, such as a state lottery to fund education in Alabama, legalized physician-assisted suicide in Michigan, and legalized use of marijuana for medical purposes in Nevada. Background information on individual state respondents includes age, race, sex, education, political party, political orientation, and family income.
Curated
Washington Post Calling Witnesses Poll, January 1999 (ICPSR 2715)
Released/updated on: 1999-06-23
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded January 28-30, 1999, sought respondents' views on the calling of witnesses to testify during the Senate impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the Senate's decisions to continue with the trial and to take private testimony from former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, attorney and Clinton confidant Vernon Jordan, and White House aide Sidney Blumenthal. Those queried were asked whether they believed that the testimonies should be made available to the general public, and whether the Senate should remove Clinton from office or censure him. Looking ahead to the 2000 congressional elections, respondents were asked which party's candidate they intended to vote for, and whether an incumbent's stance on the impeachment of Clinton would influence their electoral decision. Additional topics covered the fairness of the congressional impeachment hearings and trial, whether Clinton would be able to work and serve the nation effectively, the potential effect on the country if Clinton were removed from office, and respondents' opinions of Democrats and Republicans. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, and education.
Curated
Washington Post Starr Report Poll, September 1998 (ICPSR 2637)
Released/updated on: 2008-09-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded September 11-13, 1998,
sought respondents' views on Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's
ongoing investigation of President Bill Clinton and the resulting
"Starr Report," submitted to the United States Congress on September
10, 1998. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of Clinton and
his handling of the presidency and the economy, as well as their views
on the United States Congress, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich,
Starr, and the direction of the country. Those queried were asked whom
they trusted to handle the problems of the nation and for whom they
would be voting in the upcoming November 1998 congressional
elections. A series of questions addressed the investigation into
Clinton's relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Topics covered whether respondents believed that Clinton had explained
enough, whether Clinton had apologized enough, and whether Clinton had
done anything illegal. Respondents were asked if they believed, based
on the Starr Report, that Clinton should resign, be impeached, or be
censured. Additional questions covered the evidence contained in the
Starr Report, the amount of detail regarding Clinton's sexual
relationship with Lewinsky included in the report, and whether this
scandal would impact Clinton's ability to serve effectively as
president. Background information on respondents includes age, sex,
race, education, political party affliation, and voter registration and
participation history.
Curated
Washington Post 'What Clinton Should Do' Poll, December 1998 (ICPSR 2711)
Released/updated on: 1999-06-23
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded December 15, 1998, sought respondents' views on the upcoming full House of Representatives' vote on whether to impeach President Bill Clinton. Respondents were asked whether they felt that Clinton should resign or remain in office and face a trial in the Senate if he were to be impeached, and which action would be best for the country. In addition, respondents were asked whether their choice was based on a desire to end the matter quickly, or based on their opinion of Clinton's actions with regard to his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, and political party.