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Gallup Poll: America’s Image of Former President George W. Bush Improves

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Who says there aren’t second acts in imagery in American politics? A new Gallup Poll sees a major improvement in former President George W. Bush’s image:

Americans’ views of former president George W. Bush have improved, with 49% now viewing him favorably and 46% unfavorably. That is the first time since 2005 that opinions of him have been more positive than negative.

Bush has maintained a fairly low profile in the four years since he left office. However, he returned to the public eye this year with the April opening of his presidential library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Bush left office with 40% viewing him favorably and 59% unfavorably in January 2009. That worsened to 35% favorable and 63% unfavorable in March 2009, but his favorable rating recovered to the mid-40% range by 2010.

The June 1-4 poll shows further improvement in Americans’ ratings of Bush, which had not been more positive than negative since April 2005. Prior to then, Americans had always viewed Bush more favorably than unfavorably, including an 87% favorable rating in November 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. That is one percentage point below the all-time high Gallup has measured for any public figure, shared by Colin Powell (2002) and Tiger Woods (2000).

Bush’s lowest favorable rating was 32% in April 2008, as the economy was in recession and gas prices were headed toward record highs in the U.S. Also at the time, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were engaged in a spirited campaign to become the Democratic nominee who would run for president to succeed Bush.

Partisans on each side will give their spin on this but, in fact, the poll suggests many people look upon Bush a bit more kindly than they did when he left office — and even during the past few years. But look at some other past Presidents:

  • LBJ left office a crushed man, but at the very end of his life (he died in January 1973) if he showed up somewhere he was treated far more kindly by the press and people in the crowd.
  • Richard Nixon left office in disgrace and, yes, he had that famous interview with David Frost But at the very end of his life he was considered a kind of elder stateman on foreign affairs. In fact, when he died, many criticized the way people talked about him at his funeral. Had Nixon achieved a rehabilitation? Not really, since new unflattering tidbits about him were revealed in books — and more info on tapes.
  • Gerald Ford was considered by many a bumbler, a not very bright guy and the President who pardoned Nixon. But he was looked upon far more kindly — as a kind person thrust into a difficult position by history who handled it quite well. And, yes, in retrospect historians feel his pardon of Nixon WAS good for the country.
  • Jimmy Carter is considered by many analysts of both parties as one of the most incompetent, failed Presidents of the 20th century. But he had the best post-Oval-Office act in recent years, being known as building homes for the homeless. He still upset politicos of both parties by his blunt takes on issues. But he was more popular and respect out of office then in office.
  • George H.W. Bush’s stock has risen in recent years, most likely due to independents and Democrats who feel he looks so good compared to the next Bush that held the office and because he was the last Republican President to be considered a true old-style moderate, with tinges of Ronald Reagan conservatism.
  • Bill Clinton? Talk about a second (or third) act...


    • Gallup also notes this shift for former Presidents:

    The recovery in Bush’s image is not unexpected, given that Americans generally view former presidents positively. Gallup’s favorable ratings for Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all exceeded 60% when last measured.

    The recovery in Bush’s image is not unexpected, given that Americans generally view former presidents positively. Gallup’s favorable ratings for Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all exceeded 60% when last measured.

    Also: Bush is also now more popular with all parties then he was in March 2010.

    Again, partisans will filter that factoid from their own political preferences. But the post Oval Office Bush comes across as the Bush I heard about when I visited Texas and he was governor: an affable person. Plus, the fact he’s eschewing the opportunity to talk politics has made Americans to give him another look.

    He isn’t doing a Dick Cheney: he is not allowing himself to be seen as symbol of rank partisanship, a person seemingly obsessed with past grudges and bitter.

    Most likely? GWB’s ratings could climb up towards Clintonsville.

    UPDATE: CNN reports:

    Breaking it down further, Bush has seen improvement among independents and both political parties. Twenty-four percent of Democrats view him in a positive light, according to the new survey, compared to 10% in January 2009. Republicans saw a 14 percentage point jump, with 84% now having a positive opinion of Bush.

    The biggest increase came among independents. While 29% gave him a favorable rating in 2009, that number now stands at 46%.

    The Gallup results fall in line with a CNN/ORC International Poll released in late April, shortly before Bush’s library dedication ceremony. Those results indicated the number of people who believed Bush’s presidency was a failure had significantly dropped (by 13 percentage points) since he left office.