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Curated
Simple Crosstabs
2012 Chicago Council Survey on American Public Opinion and Foreign Policy (ICPSR 36230)
Released/updated on: 2015-12-07
Geographic coverage: United States
The Chicago Surveys are part of a long-running series of public opinion surveys conducted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs every two years. This study is the 2012 Chicago Council Survey, designed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the general public on matters related to foreign policy, and to define the parameters of public opinion within which decision-makers must operate.
The 2012 Chicago Council Survey focuses on respondents' opinions of the United States' leadership role in the world and the challenges the country faces domestically and internationally.
The survey covers the following international topics: relations with other countries, role in foreign affairs, possible threats to vital interests in the next ten years, foreign policy goals, benefits or drawbacks of globalization, situations that might justify the use of United States troops in other parts of the world, the number and location of United States military bases overseas, respondent feelings toward people of other countries, opinions on the influence of other countries in the world and how much influence those countries should have, United States participation in potential treaties, the United States' role in the United Nations and NATO, which side the United States should take in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what measures should be taken to deal with Iran's nuclear program, the military effort in Afghanistan, opinions on efforts to combat terrorism, and the rise of China as a global power.
Domestic issues include economic prospects for American children when they become adults, funding for government programs, the fairness of the current distribution of income in the United States, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and United States dependence on foreign energy sources.
Demographic and other background information include age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, left-right political self-placement, political affiliation, employment status, highest level of education, and religious preference. Also included are household size and composition, whether the respondent is head of household, household income, housing type, ownership status of living quarters, household Internet access, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) status, and region and state of residence.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
2015 Chicago Council Survey of American Public Opinion and U.S. Foreign Policy (ICPSR 36437)
Released/updated on: 2016-07-29
Geographic coverage: United States
The Chicago Council Surveys are part of a long-running series of public opinion surveys conducted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs beginning in 1974. They were conducted quadrennially from 1974 to 2002, biennially from 2002 to 2014, and are now conducted annually. The surveys are designed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the general public on matters related to foreign policy, and to define the parameters of public opinion within which decision-makers must operate. This public opinion study of the United States focused on respondents' opinions of the United States' leadership role in the world and the challenges the country faces domestically and internationally. Data were collected on a wide range of international topics, including: United States' relations with other countries, role in foreign affairs, possible threats to vital interests in the next ten years, foreign policy goals, situations that might justify the use of United States troops in other parts of the world, international trade, United States' participation in potential treaties, U.S. policy towards Russia in Ukraine, the embargo on Cuba and the effects of renewed diplomatic relations with Havana, views of the nuclear deal with Iran and what effects that deal is likely to have, and United States' relations with allies in Asia. Respondents were also asked their opinion on domestic issues including climate change, measures to improve the United States' economic competitiveness, and their views on US immigration policy. Demographic information collected includes age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, left-right political self-placement, political affiliation, employment status, highest level of education, and religious preference, household income, state of residence, and living quarters ownership status.
Curated
ABC News Bosnia Poll, May 1993 (ICPSR 6185)
Released/updated on: 2006-12-01
Geographic coverage: United States
In this special topic poll, respondents were queried regarding the fighting between Bosnian Serbs and Bosnian Muslims in the former Yugoslavian republic of Bosnia. Issues addressed include President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation in Bosnia, the refusal by the Bosnian Serbs to accept a United Nations peace plan, the United Nations arms embargo in the Bosnian region, potential United Nations authorization of the use of military force against the Bosnian Serbs, and a potential United Nations deadline for the Bosnian Serbs to stop fighting or face allied military action. Those surveyed were asked if they would support air strikes by the United States and its allies in Europe against Bosnian Serb artillery positions and supply lines, whether the United States' and European allies' ground forces should be used in Bosnia, whether the United States should take military action in Bosnia if the European allies did not agree to participate, and whether the United States would eventually be involved in a war in Bosnia. Additional questions concerned the news media's coverage of the situation in Bosnia. Background information on respondents includes political party and sex.
Curated
ABC News Clinton and Haiti Poll, September 1994 (ICPSR 3856)
Released/updated on: 2004-05-13
Geographic coverage: United States
For this special topic poll, fielded September 17, 1994, respondents were asked whether they approved of President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation in Haiti, whether the United States should lead a military invasion of Haiti. Those surveyed were asked whether they had heard President Clinton's speech on Haiti that night. Those who had were queried about whether they agreed with most of what President Clinton said, whether his speech changed their mind about whether the United States should lead a military invasion of Haiti, and whether they thought the reasons President Clinton had given were strong enough to justify invading Haiti. Background information includes political orientation 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 Haiti Invasion Poll, September 1994 (ICPSR 3863)
Released/updated on: 2004-06-17
Geographic coverage: United States
For this special topic poll, fielded September 17, 1994, respondents were asked whether they approved of President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation in Haiti, whether it was worth taking the risk imposed by Clinton's threat to invade Haiti unless the military leaders stepped down, whether the Haitian situation was basically settled since the Haitian generals controlling Haiti had agreed to step down from power, and whether respondents approved of United States military forces being sent to Haiti to help keep order in the country while Aristide reassumed his office. Background information includes political orientation and sex.
Curated
ABC News HMO Poll, November 1995 (ICPSR 6683)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and a range of other issues. Respondents were asked to rate their current health insurance coverage based on the quality of care received, cost, personal attention received from the doctor, ability to make an appointment, ability to see medical specialists when necessary, and ability to receive the most sophisticated medical treatments. Respondents were also asked for their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, the economy, and foreign policy. They were also queried about the 1996 presidential and congressional elections, the recent Republican budget proposal, and with whom they placed the blame for the looming federal government shutdown. The situation in Bosnia was addressed, with questions covering the sending of U.S. troops to Bosnia, Congressional approval of the troop deployment, and whether America's vital interests were at stake. In addition, respondents were asked to name their favorite traditional Thanksgiving dinner food and to specify if they preferred white or dark meat. Demographic variables include age, race, sex, education, political party, political orientation, family income, voter registration history, and health insurance coverage.
Curated
ABC News Iraq Attack Poll, January 1993 (ICPSR 6176)
Released/updated on: 2006-12-06
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll solicited public opinion on the bombing raid conducted by the United States in response to Iraq's violation of the terms of the cease-fire ending the Persian Gulf War. Approval of the bombing raid and perception of its effectiveness was assessed, and respondents were also asked to consider the option of continued bombing in response to further Iraqi violations of the cease-fire. Other questions covered the Bush Administration's plan to send 600 to 800 troops to Kuwait to guard against border violations by Iraq, and the possibility of the United States becoming involved in another war with Iraq. Respondents were asked whether the United States should do everything it could to force Saddam Hussein from power, whether the United States should attempt to kill Saddam Hussein, whether President George Bush did the right thing by bombing Iraq before Bill Clinton took office, and if Clinton could be expected to do a better job of handling the situation in the Persian Gulf. On other subjects, respondents were queried regarding Bush's decision to send troops to Somalia, and whether the United States should take military action against Serbia to stop it from supporting Serbian fighters in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Background information on respondents includes political party, age, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Iraq/Impeachment Poll, December 1998 (ICPSR 2712)
Released/updated on: 1999-06-23
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded December 16, 1998, sought respondents' views on the upcoming United States House of Representatives vote on whether to impeach President Bill Clinton, and the United States' launch of air strikes against Iraq earlier in the evening in response to Iraq's refusal to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. Those queried were asked for their opinions on the motives behind, the timing of, and the scope of the attack against Iraq. Their views were sought on whether the attack would accomplish Clinton's stated goal of interfering with Iraq's ability to produce nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Additional questions addressed the House of Representatives' decision to delay their impeachment vote due to the current military action in Iraq, and whether Clinton's decision to launch the attack had impacted respondents' views on whether Clinton should be impeached. Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News Iraq Poll, August 1990 (ICPSR 9464)
Released/updated on: 2007-04-02
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1990-08-17--1990-08-20
This survey concentrates on issues surrounding the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and American political, economic, and military reactions to this invasion. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way Bush, King Hussein of Jordan, and Israel 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 Saudi Arabia and 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, if they thought the economic boycott would make Iraq withdraw from Kuwait, and if they approved of putting some members of United States military reserves on active duty because of the situation. Other questions included who would win the war if the United States went to war with Iraq, if it would be a relatively short war, if the United States should consider using nuclear weapons, if the United States was heading for another Vietnam War, if the situation would lead to increased terrorism against American citizens, if those Americans not allowed to leave Iraq and Kuwait were hostages, and whether moral principle or economic consideration was behind United States actions. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, education, age, race, sex, and state/ region residence.
Curated
ABC News Iraq Poll, September 2002 (ICPSR 3555)
Released/updated on: 2005-12-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 12-14, 2002, was undertaken to assess public opinion on the potential war against Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein, how important it was to force the Iraqi president from power, whether President Bush had a clear policy on Iraq, whether the Bush administration was overstating the level of threat from Iraq, whether it had done enough to win international support for taking military action against Iraq, whether Bush had presented enough evidence on why the United States should remove Saddam Hussein from power, and whether attacking/not attacking Iraq would create a greater risk of further terrorist attacks to the United States. Those polled also indicated their level of support for United States military action against Iraq. They were asked whether they would be for/against it if United States allies opposed such military action, if the United States used ground troops, if there was a significant number of United States military casualties, if Iraq agreed to let United Nations weapons inspectors back into the country, and if Iraq interfered or did not cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. Background information on respondents includes gender, age, education, political party affiliation, race, and Hispanic origin.
Curated
ABC News Kosovo Peace Poll #1, June 1999 (ICPSR 2774)
Released/updated on: 1999-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded June 6-7, 1999, sought respondents' views on the peace agreement reached between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Serbia, and on a series of political issues pertinent to the United States. Those queried were asked for their opinions on the United States' commitment of 7,000 ground troops as part of a larger NATO peacekeeping force in Serbia, the outcome of the conflict, whether it was right for the United States to become involved, and whether Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic should be put on trial for war crimes. Respondents were also asked for their opinions of President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, the United States Congress, the Republican and Democratic parties, Texas Governor George W. Bush, former president of the American Red Cross and presidential hopeful Elizabeth Dole, First Lady Hillary Clinton, and former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley. Their views were sought on which political party they trusted to do a better job in the areas of crime, foreign affairs, the economy, and encouraging high moral standards. Given a possible match between Gore and Bush for president in the 2000 election, respondents were asked for whom they would vote. They were also asked for their vote choice given a Republican primary or caucus for president in 2000 with candidates Bush, Dole, Arizona Senator John McCain, businessman Steve Forbes, New Hampshire Senator Bob Smith, former Vice President and Indiana Senator Dan Quayle, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan, former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander, Ohio Congressman John Kasich, Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, and radio show host Alan Keyes. Finally, given a Democratic primary or caucus for president in 2000 with candidates Gore, Bradley, and Reverend Jesse Jackson, respondents were asked to indicate their vote. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, political party, voter registration status, and income.
Curated
ABC News Kosovo Peace Poll #2, June 1999 (ICPSR 2775)
Released/updated on: 1999-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded June 10, 1999, sought respondents' views on the peace agreement reached between the United States and its European allies and Serbia. Those queried were asked for their opinions on President Bill Clinton's handling of the presidency and the situation in Kosovo, the peace agreement, which included a provision for an international peace-keeping force of 50,000, and whether Serbia could be trusted to carry out the terms of the peace agreement. Respondents were asked which side they thought won, whether they believed the peace agreement would last, and whether the allies should resume air strikes if Serbia did not carry out the terms of the peace agreement. An additional question addressed whether the United States should contribute monetarily to rebuild Kosovo. Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News Kosovo Poll #1, April 1999 (ICPSR 2769)
Released/updated on: 1999-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded April 4-5, 1999, sought respondents' views on the current situation in Serbia, especially United States involvement in the air strikes and the protection of the Albanian refugees. Those queried were asked for their opinions on President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation, whether American's vital interests were at stake, whether they supported the air strikes against Serbia, and what the goals of the United States and its European allies were in the region. Respondents were asked to assess the success of the air strikes and to consider additional possible courses of action, including the utilization of ground troops to end the conflict in Kosovo, the deployment of ground troops to protect returning ethnic Albanian refugees once peace was attained, and the use of combat helicopters to attack Serbian forces. Additional questions covered the potential loss of American soldiers' lives, whether enough was being done to aid the ethnic Albanian refugees, the use of troops to remove Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic from power, and whether Milosevic should be tried for war crimes. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, and political party.
Curated
ABC News Libya Poll, March 1986 (ICPSR 8578)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-14
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted after fighting broke out between Libyan and United States forces in the Bay of Sidra. Respondents were asked if they approve of Reagan's handling of the situation, if they believe that the United States has a right to have vessels in the Bay of Sidra, if the United States should be holding military exercises there, and whether or not they think that the military actions have been too tough. In addition, respondents were asked questions concerning the sending of military aid to Honduras and to the Nicaraguan rebels.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" Clinton Somalia Poll, October 1993 (ICPSR 6290)
Released/updated on: 1997-05-16
Geographic coverage: United States
For this special topic poll, respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President Bill Clinton was handling the situation in Somalia, his decision to send 5,000 additional troops, and his decision to set a March 31 withdrawal deadline. They were also asked whether the United States troop withdrawal should be unconditional or conditional based on factors such as the possibility of an interruption in food distribution and another famine in Somalia. Other questions covered whether the United States should respond with a major military attack against warlord Mohammed Aideed's forces if American soldiers could not be freed through negotiations, and whether those American prisoners should be exchanged for the more than two dozen of Aideed's forces being held by the United Nations. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline" the day the poll was taken. Demographic background variables include political orientation and sex.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" Clinton Speech Poll, November 1995 (ICPSR 6685)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-14
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the November 27, 1995, speech given by President Bill Clinton on the situation in Bosnia. Those queried were asked for their opinions on President Clinton's handling of the conflict, whether he had a clear policy towards Bosnia, and if the United States had vital interests at stake in Bosnia. Respondents were asked if they believed the President's assertion that the 20,000 United States troops committed to Bosnia as part of the international peace-keeping force would return within one year. Questions on the viability of the peace-keeping mission without United States involvement and the possibility of Congressional intervention to prevent troops from going to Bosnia were also posed. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Demographic variables include sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" Haiti Poll, October 1993 (ICPSR 6291)
Released/updated on: 1997-05-16
Geographic coverage: United States
For this special topic poll, respondents were asked whether they approved of President Bill Clinton's handling of foreign affairs, the situation in Somalia, and the situation in Haiti. Specifically, they were queried as to whether Clinton had a clear policy on the situations in Somalia and Haiti and whether United States vital interests were at stake in either country. Questions covered whether the United States has the responsibility to take the leading role in world affairs, whether the United States should send United States troops to participate in United Nations peace-keeping efforts around the world, and whether those troops should be placed under United Nations command. Other questions focused on whether Clinton had consulted Congress enough regarding sending United States troops to participate in United Nations missions and whether Congress should have the power to prevent a president from sending troops to participate in such missions. Those queried were also asked whether they agreed with the United States oil embargo on Haiti and whether they supported sending United States troops to Haiti if democracy was not restored. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline" the day the poll was taken. Demographic background variables include political orientation, sex, age, race, income, and education.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" Iraq Poll, August 2002 (ICPSR 3562)
Released/updated on: 2005-12-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted August 29, 2002, was undertaken to assess opinions about Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein, whether they favored United States forces taking military action against Iraq to force Saddam Hussein from power, whether they would favor military action if United States allies opposed such action, whether they thought the United States was headed for war with Iraq, how important they thought it was for the United States to force Saddam Hussein from power, whether President Bush had a clear policy on Iraq, whether Bush should get authorization from Congress before launching an attack, and who should have the final decision if the President and Congress disagreed on attacking Iraq. Respondents were also asked which would create a greater risk of further terrorism to this country: taking or not taking military action. Background information on respondents includes political party affiliation and gender.
Curated
ABC News 'Nightline' Kosovo Poll #1, March 1999 (ICPSR 2767)
Released/updated on: 1999-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded March 23, 1999, sought respondents' views on United States involvement in the Serbian region of Kosovo. Those queried were asked whether they believed that America's vital interests were at stake in Kosovo, whether the United States should bomb military targets in Serbia if the Serbian government refused to agree to a peace plan for Kosovo, and whether United States involvement in the region was likely to bring peace to the area. Additional questions addressed the possible use of United States ground troops to enforce the peace treaty in Kosovo, whether United States military involvement would put United States soldiers at risk, and how many lives bringing peace to Kosovo was worth. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News 'Nightline' Kosovo Poll #2, April 1999 (ICPSR 2770)
Released/updated on: 1999-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded April 8, 1999, sought respondents' views on the current situation in Kosovo. Those queried were asked for their opinions on President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation, whether America's vital interests were at stake, and how they viewed the air strikes currently being waged against Serbia by the United States and its European allies. Respondents were asked whether they would support the use of ground troops to end the conflict, how much time they believed should lapse before ground troops were sent, whether the United States was going to get into a ground war in Kosovo, and the impact of the potential loss of American lives on public opinion. Additional questions covered the success to date of the attacks, whether the respondent possessed a good understanding of the situation, why the United States was involved, and who was to blame for the current refugee situation. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News 'Nightline' Kosovo Poll #2, March 1999 (ICPSR 2768)
Released/updated on: 1999-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded March 26, 1999, sought respondents' views on United States involvement in the Serbian region of Kosovo and the air strikes, launched March 24, 1999, by the United States and its European allies, against Serbia. Those queried were asked whether they possessed a sound understanding of the conflict, whether President Bill Clinton had handled the situation appropriately, and whether America's vital interests were at stake in Kosovo. Respondents were asked whether they supported the air strikes against Serbia, whether they believed reports that the bombing had actually increased the attacks on Kosovar civilians by the Serbian forces, and whether peace in Kosovo was worth the loss of American soldiers' lives. An additional question addressed the March 26, 1999, conviction of Dr. Jack Kevorkian of second-degree murder, for causing the death of a terminally ill patient who asked for his assistance. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" Somalia Poll, October 1993 (ICPSR 6289)
Released/updated on: 1997-05-16
Geographic coverage: United States
For this special topic poll, respondents were asked whether they approved of President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation in Somalia and, looking back, whether they approved of former President George Bush's decision to send United States troops to Somalia. The U.S. role in Somalia was addressed in detail, with questions on whether America's vital interests were at stake in Somalia, the conditions under which the United States should withdraw from Somalia and when, whether 450 more troops and tanks should be sent to Somalia, whether the United States should continue trying to capture warlord Mohammed Aideed, and whether the United States should respond with a major military attack against Aideed's forces if American soldiers held as prisoners couldn't be freed through negotiations. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline" the day the poll was taken. Demographic background variables include political orientation and sex.
Curated
ABC News Panama Poll #1, December 1989 (ICPSR 9433)
Released/updated on: 2007-07-03
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey focused on the United States military action in Panama. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way President George Bush was handling the situation, if they approved of the United States' having sent military forces to overthrow Manuel Noriega, if they would still approve if the action resulted in a large number of Panamanian civilian casualties, if the reasons Bush had given for invading Panama were good enough to warrant the action, and if sending military forces into Panama to overthrow Noriega was legal under United States law. Other topics covered include comparisons to Viet Nam, using similar military action in Nicaragua, the level of danger to Americans in Panama, Bush's trip to Colombia to discuss the drug problem, and if the action affected the respondents' feelings of pride in the United States. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, age, sex, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News Panama Poll #2, December 1989 (ICPSR 9434)
Released/updated on: 2007-07-03
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey focused on the United States military action in Panama. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way President George Bush was handling the situation, if they approved of the United States' having sent military forces to overthrow Manuel Noriega, if they felt that the operation had been a success, if the reasons Bush had given for invading Panama were good enough to warrant the action, and if sending military forces into Panama to overthrow Noriega was legal under United States law. Additional questions included whether it bothered the respondent that only a few countries supported the United States' action, if the action could be called successful if Noriega remained free, and if the offer of a million dollar reward for turning in Noriega would work. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, age, sex, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News Poll, September 1994 (ICPSR 3854)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-30
Geographic coverage: Cuba, Haiti, 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. Questions included the respondent's opinion on what the most important problem facing the United States was and approval ratings for President Clinton's handling of the presidency, the economy, foreign affairs, crime, and health care. Approval ratings were also tallied for the United States Congress and the Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Respondents were asked how much Congress had accomplished in the past year compared to years before and who was responsible (i.e., President Clinton or the parties in Congress). Respondents were asked if they believed certain political figures, including President Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, and the respondent's representative in Congress, were doing what was best for the country, their district, or their own political lives. Those polled were asked what they believed their representative in Congress should or should not be doing, and which political party was better at handling issues such as the economy and helping the middle class. Queries included the general functioning of the federal government and what, if any, changes were needed. Respondent opinions on the crime bill were gathered, as well as approval ratings on Congress's handling of the health care system. Other questions concerning health care included whether the respondent supported proposed changes to the health care system and whether the respondent believed that significant improvements would be made to the health care system. Respondents were also queried on what changes they would like to see in Congress -- for example, whether they would vote for their incumbent representative or the challenger. Respondents were asked if they believed that America's vital interests were at stake in the situation in Cuba and/or in Haiti and whether the United States should end its economic embargo against Cuba if certain conditions were met. Questions also solicited respondent views on whether they would support a military invasion of Haiti and if they believed that the United States would go to war with Haiti. Respondents' knowledge of bills passed in Congress within the past year was also assessed. Demographic information gathered includes political affiliation, voter registration status, voting record, political philosophy, level of education, religious preference, urban or rural residence, marital status, labor union status, working status, ethnicity, age, sex, yearly income, and willingness for call-back.
Curated
ABC News Post-Republican Convention Poll, August 1992 (ICPSR 6018)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-30
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1992-08-20--1992-08-21
This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of political, social, and economic issues. Conducted by ABC News in August of 1992, the poll focused on topics such as the effect of Ross Perot's withdrawal from the presidential race on voting preferences, evaluations of the current presidential and vice-presidential candidates, perceived responsibility for current economic conditions, and the federal government's lack of action on major problems facing the nation, the economy, and the budget deficit. Respondents were asked to rate the likelihood of their voting in the upcoming presidential election in light of their personal daily schedules and to indicate their voting preferences and strength of support for Bush, Clinton, and Perot. The poll also assessed how favorably respondents viewed the current presidential and vice-presidential candidates, and whether the respondent was satisfied that each candidate had the honesty, integrity, and ability to understand the problems of the average American and to serve effectively as president. Respondents were also asked to indicate which candidate would do the best job of dealing with family values, foreign affairs, the economy, the budget deficit, bringing needed change to government, and taxes. Bush and Clinton were also evaluated with regard to whether they had a vision for the future of the country, would get things done, and could be trusted in a crisis. Respondents were asked whether Bush or the Democrats in Congress were most responsible for the current economic conditions and the federal government's failure to act on major problems. With respect to the economy, respondents were asked whether they would be willing to contribute a percentage of their tax returns if it lowered the deficit by the same percent, whether the economy was getting better or worse, and which was more important: cutting federal taxes or spending more on domestic problems. Other items included respondents' assessments of the economic level of people Bush cared most about, and whether the United States should bomb Iraq if it believed Iraq was not in compliance with the terms of the cease-fire agreement. Demographic information includes political affiliation, political conservatism/liberalism, education, age, race, and gender.
Curated
ABC News Post-State of the Union Address Poll, January 2003 (ICPSR 3773)
Released/updated on: 2003-08-07
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted January 28, 2003, was undertaken to assess public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues following the State of the Union Address earlier that evening. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, the economy, the situation with Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and the cost, availability, and coverage of health insurance. Those polled were asked whether they supported or opposed United States military action against Iraq to force Hussein from power, whether their support or opposition would change if the United Nations opposed such action, and whether they supported or opposed an invasion by United States ground troops with significant military casualties. Views were sought on whether Bush had presented enough evidence to justify the use of military force in Iraq, whether United Nations weapons inspectors should be given additional time to search for weapons of mass destruction, and whether Iraq provided direct support to the al Qaeda terrorist group. A series of questions focusing on the State of the Union Address covered whether respondents approved or disapproved of Bush's message, whether Bush made a good case for going to war with Iraq, and whether the speech made respondents more or less confident in Bush's ability to handle the economy, the situation with Iraq, and the cost, availability, and coverage of health insurance. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News Pre-State of the Union Address Poll, January 2003 (ICPSR 3772)
Released/updated on: 2003-09-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted January 27, 2003, was undertaken to assess public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues on the eve of the State of the Union Address. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, the economy, the United States campaign against terrorism, and the situation with Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Those polled were asked whether they supported or opposed United States military action against Iraq to force Hussein from power, whether their support or opposition would change if the United Nations opposed such action, and whether they supported or opposed an invasion by United States ground troops with possible military casualties. Views were sought on whether Bush had presented enough evidence to justify the use of military force in Iraq, whether United Nations weapons inspectors should be given additional time to search for weapons of mass destruction, and whether the burden of proof regarding the existence of weapons of mass destruction lay with the United States or with Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they were concerned that the Bush administration would act too quickly and/or without international support, whether Iraq posed an immediate threat to United States interests, and whether Bush had overstated the level of threat facing the United States from Iraq. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Afghanistan Attack Poll #1, October 2001 (ICPSR 3298)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-31
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 7, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the United States military action in Afghanistan. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President Bush was handling the response to terrorist attacks in the United States, and whether they supported United States air strikes on Afghanistan and sending a significant number of United States ground troops into that country. Those polled also gave their opinions on whether capturing or killing Osama bin Laden and his associates was a higher priority than overthrowing the Taliban government and how concerned they were about the possibility of further terrorist attacks in America. Respondents also tried to predict whether it would be a quick military action or a long war, and whether the military action in Afghanistan would make further terrorist attacks against the United States more or less likely. Opinions were elicited on whether the United States should have done more to find a diplomatic solution before attacking Afghanistan, whether the United States should mount a broader war against terrorism, whether the United States government was doing enough in its anti-terrorism campaign to win the support of Muslim people, and whether respondents supported the humanitarian aid for Afghans. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Afghanistan Attack Poll #2, October 2001 (ICPSR 3299)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-31
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 8, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the United States military action in Afghanistan. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President Bush was handling the response to terrorist attacks in the United States, and whether they supported United States air strikes on Afghanistan and sending a significant number of United States ground troops into that country. Respondents were asked whether they believed that the United States government was doing all it reasonably could do to try to prevent further terrorist attacks and whether they supported United States military action against other countries supporting terrorism. Those polled expressed their level of concern about the possibility of further terrorist attacks (specifically biological and chemical) in America, and how confident they were in the abilities of the federal and local governments, police, and health agencies to respond effectively to a biological or chemical attack in the United States. A battery of questions focused on the Muslim religion and its believers, including whether respondents had a good basic understanding of Islam, how they viewed this religion, whether Arabs and Muslims had positive or negative opinions about the United States and reasons for these opinions, whether they thought the terrorists who attacked the United States in September were close in their views to the mainstream teachings of Islam, and whether they knew anyone who was a Muslim. Respondents also gave their opinions on whether the United States was doing enough to improve its image among Arabs and Muslims. Another subject of this survey was the Middle East. Those polled commented on whether they had more sympathy for Israel or for the Palestinian Authority, whether the United States should increase support for Israel or decrease support for Israel and recognize Palestine as an independent nation, and what was more important at this time--United States relations with Israel or with the Arab nations. Additional questions focused on the possibility of a broader war between the United States and its allies on one side and Arabs and Muslims on the other side, the efforts of the United States to avoid a broader war, and racial profiling and social consent for racial profiling as a tool against terrorism. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, race, Hispanic origin, religion, political party affiliation, political orientation, education, and objective size of community.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Anthrax Poll, October 2001 (ICPSR 3300)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-31
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 15, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, the United States' war on terrorism, and the recent letters contaminated with anthrax bacteria being distributed through the mail. Respondents were asked how they viewed President George W. Bush and his handling of the United States' campaign against terrorism, whether they believed that the United States government was doing all it could to prevent further terrorist attacks against America, and whether they were concerned about the possibility that there would be more major terrorist attacks in the United States. A series of questions focusing on the anthrax attacks queried respondents on whether they were concerned that they or someone close to them would be a victim of an anthrax attack, how confident they were in the ability of the United States government to respond effectively to a large-scale biological or chemical attack in the United States, and how accurate they thought news media reports on the anthrax situation were. In addition, respondents were asked whether they had purchased or intended to purchase a supply of antibiotics in case of a biological attack, and, if they had purchased antibiotics, what brand they bought. Those queried were asked to assess their level of concern that the United States war on terrorism would grow into a broader war between the United States and its allies and the Arab and Muslim world, and whether the United States was doing all it reasonably could to avoid civilian casualties as a result of the military action in Afghanistan. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Bush War Speech Poll, March 2003 (ICPSR 3781)
Released/updated on: 2004-06-04
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll was undertaken to assess public opinion on President George W. Bush's March 17, 2003, speech that threatened military action against Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they had watched or listened to any of the speech that evening, whether they supported or opposed the United States going to war with Iraq and the 48 hour deadline given for Saddam Hussein to leave his country, and how confident they were that President Bush's policy on Iraq was the right one for the United States. Several questions addressed the Bush Administration's decision not to have the United Nations Security Council vote on war with Iraq, whether the administration did enough to try to win support from other countries for taking military action against Iraq, whether the United States should offer Saddam Hussein and his sons amnesty in exchange for leaving Iraq, and whether Iraq could be disarmed and Saddam Hussein removed from power without going to war. Additional questions addressed whether the United States should show less cooperation and support for France and the United Nations in the future or continue its usual relationship, and whether the war with Iraq would increase or decrease the risk of further terrorism in the United States. Background variables include sex and political party affiliation.
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 Colin Powell Speech to the United Nations Poll, February 2003 (ICPSR 3775)
Released/updated on: 2003-07-30
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted February 5, 2003, was undertaken to assess public opinion on Secretary of State Colin Powell's address to the United Nations about Iraq earlier that day. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the situation with Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, whether they supported or opposed United States military action against Iraq even without United Nations support, and whether the Bush administration had presented enough evidence to show why military action was necessary. Those polled were asked to assess their familiarity with Powell's address to the United Nations, whether Powell made a convincing case for going to war, and whether the evidence presented proved, or merely suggested, that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Views were sought on whether the United States had presented strong evidence showing that Iraq had chemical and biological weapons, was trying to develop nuclear weapons, had provided direct support to the al Qaeda terrorist group, and had not cooperated with United Nations weapons inspectors. Respondents were asked how much longer the Bush administration should give United Nations weapons inspectors to search for weapons of mass destruction, and whether it was more important for the United States to move quickly against Iraq or wait to gain international support. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post House Vote Poll, December 1998 (ICPSR 2713)
Released/updated on: 1999-06-23
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded December 19, 1998, sought respondents' views regarding the United States House of Representatives vote to impeach President Bill Clinton, announced earlier in the day. Those queried were asked for their opinions on whether the vote was based on fact or on partisan politics, who was to blame for the situation, whether Clinton should fight the charges in the Senate or resign, and whether the Senate should vote to remove Clinton from office, censure him, or drop the charges. A series of questions addressed the same-day resignation of Republican Louisiana Congressman and House of Representatives Speaker-elect Bob Livingston after the disclosure of his extramarital affairs. Respondents were asked whether they agreed with Livingston's decision to resign, whether his resignation would convince Clinton to resign, and whether the increased attention being paid to the extramarital affairs of elected officials was appropriate. Additional topics covered Clinton's ability to serve effectively, the ability of Congress to work effectively, the ongoing United States air strikes against Iraq, Clinton's moral standards, the purpose of the impeachment process, and the role of the president in setting an example with his/her personal life. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, education, political party, political orientation, and voter participation history.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Iran Airliner Poll, July 1988 (ICPSR 9066)
Released/updated on: 2008-07-24
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted following the downing of an Iranian airliner in the Persian Gulf by a United States Navy ship. Topics covered include the United States military presence in the Persian Gulf, Reagan's handling of the situation, the chances that the United States would become involved in a major military conflict in the Gulf, and the likelihood of a major terrorist attack in the United States. Specific questions relating to the airliner incident include whether the respondent thought the United States ship was justified in shooting down the airliner, whether the captain of the ship had acted properly, whether the United States or Iran was more to blame for the incident, whether the United States should pay compensation to the families of those killed on the airliner, and whether the United States should formally apologize to Iran for the incident. Respondents also were asked if they had heard that Attorney General Edwin Meese had resigned, if the resignation was a good or bad thing, and how they would rate Meese's overall ethical standards as attorney general. 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 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 Kosovo Poll #3, April 1999 (ICPSR 2771)
Released/updated on: 1999-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded April 25-26, 1999, sought respondents' views on the current situation in Kosovo. Those queried were asked for their opinions on President Bill Clinton's handling of the presidency and the situation in Kosovo. Specifically, respondents were asked about the air strikes currently being launched against Serbia by the United States and its allies, the possibility of a ground war, the potential for loss of American lives, who was winning the conflict, and the civilian casualties that had occurred as a result of the conflict. Additional questions addressed the possible increased military involvement on the part of the United States through the use of military reserves and the National Guard, whether the United States should have gotten involved in this conflict, the potential for the development of a situation similar to the Vietnam War, and cooperation among the NATO allies. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Kosovo Poll, May 1999 (ICPSR 2773)
Released/updated on: 1999-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded May 16, 1999, sought respondents' views on the conflict in Kosovo as well as their attitudes toward gun ownership and control laws in the United States. Those queried were asked for their opinions on President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation in Kosovo, the possible use of ground troops, the air strikes being waged against Serbia by the United States and its European allies, and the roles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States, and the European allies in the peace negotiation process. Respondents were asked for their views on the NATO allies' conditions for ending the conflict, including requiring Serbia to remove its soldiers and special police force from Kosovo, allowing a NATO-led peacekeeping force into Kosovo, permitting the return of all refugees to Kosovo, and granting Kosovo limited self-rule as a province of Serbia. Additional questions elicited views on the NATO allies' bombing of the Chinese consulate in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, which side was winning the conflict, and whether the United States should have become involved. The topic of gun control was also addressed, with items on stricter gun laws, which political party was best suited to handle the issue of gun control, background checks at gun shows, trigger locks, bans on the sale of assault weapons and the sale of guns through the mail and the Internet, and impressions of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, political party, and gun ownership.
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 Persian Gulf/Stock Drop Poll, October 1987 (ICPSR 8889)
Released/updated on: 2008-07-24
Geographic coverage: United States
The United States' military presence in the Persian Gulf and the sharp drop in stock market prices in mid-October 1987 were the central topics of this poll. Respondents' opinions were sought on the presence of American military forces in the Gulf and its possible ramifications, Reagan's handling of the situation, United States Naval forces escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers, and the United States attack on an Iranian oil platform on the morning of October 19, 1987. With regard to the drop in stock prices, respondents were asked if it had affected them personally, if it signalled a downturn in the nation's economy and the possibility of a Depression like that of the 1930s, if they owned stocks, and if they were planning to sell because of the decline. Demographic data on respondents are included.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Politics II Poll, January 2003 (ICPSR 3771)
Released/updated on: 2003-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted January 30, 2003-February 1, 2003, is part of a 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 George W. Bush's performance in relation to the economy, the war against terrorism, Saddam Hussein and Iraq, the budget, taxes, Medicare, and prescription drug benefits for the elderly. Respondents were also asked to give their opinions on the priorities and effectiveness of Congress, the justification and support for military action against Iraq and its leader Saddam Hussein, the possible economic and human costs of pursuing military action in Iraq, the current condition of Medicare, and the long-term effects of President Bush's proposed tax cuts. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, political orientation, education, ethnicity, and household income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Politics Poll, February 2003 (ICPSR 3774)
Released/updated on: 2003-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll is part of a 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 George W. Bush and his performance in relation to possible military action in Iraq and North Korea and the economy. They were also asked about the space program in light of the space shuttle Columbia crash and the future of the manned space shuttle flights, the case for action in Iraq and how the position of the United Nations and other countries would affect the actions of the United States in Iraq, and the possible long- and short-term effects of military intervention in Iraq. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, political orientation, education, and ethnicity.
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, April 2003 (ICPSR 3782)
Released/updated on: 2003-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll is part of a 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 the effectiveness of President George W. Bush, the 2004 presidential election, the war on terrorism, the future of relations between the United States and Iraq, the economy, the strengths of the Democratic and Republican parties, and government spending. A series of questions addressed President Bush's handling of domestic issues like education, the budget, Social Security, health care, homeland security, the economy, and foreign affairs including the war on terrorism, the situation in North Korea, and the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians. Other questions focused on the president's chances of winning a second term against Democratic challengers Senator Joseph Lieberman and Senator John Kerry, the effectiveness of military action in Iraq, future relations with a new Iraqi government, prioritizing domestic and foreign affairs, the effectiveness of the Democratic and Republican parties on foreign and domestic issues, and the current state of the nation relative to years past. Background variables include age, sex, education, religious orientation, household income, ethnicity, marital status, union membership, and location of the respondents' home.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, August 1994 (ICPSR 3852)
Released/updated on: 2007-08-03
Geographic coverage: United States
This ABC News/Washington Post poll, fielded during August of 1994, 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 approval ratings for President Clinton in his handling of the presidency, the economy, foreign affairs, the situation in Haiti, and health care. Issues in health care included the changes Congress made to Clinton's health care plan and the priority of providing health care to all Americans and/or full-time workers. Respondents were asked to speculate on whether leading officials in Washington, DC, would make significant improvements to the country's health care system. On the subject of Haiti, respondents were asked how strongly the United States should act to restore democracy to Haiti. Opinion was also gathered on whether respondents thought that the United States would go to war with Haiti. On the subject of the Whitewater investigation, those surveyed were asked their opinion on how President Clinton was handling the situation, how worthwhile and/or important the Whitewater hearings were, and whether they thought that Clinton or any other high-level members of the Clinton administration did anything illegal. Queries concerning Hillary Clinton asked for respondents' perception of her influence over President Clinton, their favorable or unfavorable opinion of the First Lady, and their opinion of President Clinton's decision to appoint her head of the health care task force. Respondents were asked if the federal government had become more efficient in the past year, and how much progress the Clinton administration had made in making it so. Opinions were also gathered on United States marshals guarding abortion clinics and the potential baseball players strike. Demographics include political party identification, voter registration address, political philosophy, level of education, age, employment status, ethnicity, yearly household income, and sex.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 2002 (ICPSR 3769)
Released/updated on: 2003-10-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted December 12, 2002, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit opinions on the presidency and on other political and social issues. Respondents were asked their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the economy, Iraq and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, education reform, Social Security, prescription drug coverage, health insurance, the environment, Homeland security, taxes, and the war against terrorism. Respondents were also asked to give their views on President Bush's priorities for the country, the individuals who influenced his policymaking, and the amount of blame or credit that should be attributed to President Bush for the economy. Respondents' opinions were elicited on taking military action against Iraq, whether the reasons given by President Bush were sufficient to justify military action, whether Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, the level of threat Iraq posed to the United States, and whether the government was doing enough to battle terrorism and protect civil liberties. In addition, respondents were queried about the Catholic Church and its handling of recent abuse allegations brought against clergy, and the overall political and economic outlook for the country and the world in 2003. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, ethnicity, education, political orientation, religious orientation, level of religious participation, household income, and whether the respondent lived in an urban, suburban, or rural area.
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.