To what extent were Presidency and US politics revitalised - key facts

Reagan’s approval ratings

• 1980 - 68%

• 1984 - 59%

• 1986 - 65%

Bush’s average approval rating

61%

Carter’s approval rating

28%

Clinton’s approval rating

55%

Reagan’s approval rating following Iran-Contra affair 1986

Fell from 67% to 46%

Control of House and Senate

• 1988 - Democrats

• 1996 - Republicans

Profit made by Los Angeles Olympic Organising Committee (LAOOC)

$215 million

Viewers of Reagan-Carter debates

80.6 million

Viewers of 1996 presidential debates

36.3 million

Election turnout in 1986

35%

Bill Clinton’s 1996 inaugural speech

‘The era of big government is over’

Government spending as a % of GDP under Clinton

Dropped from 22% to 18%

Size of federal workforce under Clinton

Dropped by 377,000

Government debt under Clinton

• Clinton ran surpluses in the national budget, meaning he:

• Reduced government debt by $450 billion

• Reduced debt as a % of GDP from 48% to 34%

States won by Reagan

• 1980 - 44

• 1984 - 49