Chapter 7 > The President's Foreign Policy Performance > Policy Evaluations

U.S. Report - pdf version Leaders Questionnaire - pdf version Public Questionnaire - pdf version

Policy Evaluations

Although the public likes President Bush and grades his success in conducting foreign policy rather high compared to his predecessors, the Bush administration’s handling of overall foreign policy is rated more moderately (see Figure 7-1). Fifty-three percent of Americans consider it “excellent” (13%) or “good” (40%), while 31% say “fair” and 13% say “poor.” In a few specific policy areas the administration scores higher, but in most it scores lower. (Subsequent figures combine “excellent” and “good” ratings as being positive.)

The Bush administration’s job in responding to the terrorist attacks and rallying allies has earned quite positive scores from Americans. Its handling of relations with Russia is rated positively by 61%, putting the handling of Russia at the top of the 13 policy areas we inquired about. The only time an administration has been seen as doing better with Russia was in 1990, when the Soviet Union was collapsing and the first Bush administration won a 74% positive rating. The current Bush administration’s handling of international terrorism is rated positively by 55% of the public (16 points higher than the Clinton administration’s rating in 1998), and 55% also approve the Bush administration’s handling of the war in Afghanistan. The 22% and 23% “excellent” ratings on terrorism and Afghanistan are higher than in any other area. Handling of relations with Europe and with Japan are rated positively by 60% and 51%, respectively. The high rating for relations with Europe is notable given disputes over such matters as international treaties, policy toward Iraq, and trade in steel and agricultural goods.

The Bush administration receives ratings from the public that are mediocre at best, however, on a larger set of policy areas, including its handling of overall trade policy (45% positive), the Antiballistic Missile Treaty (41%), relations with China (39%), and nuclear proliferation (39%), though the latter is up 8 points compared to the Clinton administration in 1998. The public is especially critical of the administration’s job on the Arab-Israeli peace process (only 33% positive, down 11 points from the Clinton administration’s rating), immigration policy (27% positive, with a high of 41% giving the administration a “poor” grade), and global warming (only 25% positive).

The public gives the Bush administration a remarkably weak evaluation of its handling of the situation in Iraq: only 32% rate it “excellent” or “good,” while 62% say “fair” or “poor.”