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[Polling Information - 1982] (4)
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[Polling Information - 1982] (4)
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Records of the White House Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Reagan Administration)
Michael Deaver's Political Files
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Deaver, Michael: Files
Folder Title: [Polling Information-1982] (4 of 6)
Box: 65
To see more digitized collections
visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
Decision/Making/Information
19
THE ECONOMY AND THE
REAGAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM
Decision/Making/Informati
20
Assessment of Economic Variables
"Compared to a year ago, do you think
has gotten better,
gotten worse, or stayed about the same?"
National
Interest
Economy
Unemployment
Inflation
Rates
Gotten better
12
4
26
19
Gotten worse
51
83
42
37
Stayed about the same
33
12
31
42
No Opinion
4
1
1
2
"Thinking about a year from now, do you expect
will be better,
or worse, or about the same as now?"
National
Interest
Economy
Unemployment
Inflation
Rates
Be better
43
43
45
45
Be worse
20
30
21
18
Be about the same
34
25
31
34
No opinion
3
2
3
3
ASSESSMENT OF ECONOMY
PERCENT
100
OPTIMISTS
90
REBOUNDERS
80
70
PESSIMISTS
60
21
50
40
32
30
27
22
20
10
0
MARCH 6
MARCH 29
APRIL 18
MAY 3
MAY 26
JUNE 22
ASSESSMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT
PERCENT
100
OPTIMISTS
90
REBOUNDERS
80
70
PESSIMISTS
60
22
50
40
39
31
30
23
20
10
0
MARCH 6
MARCH 29
APRIL 18
MAY 3
MAY 26
JUNE 22
ASSESSMENT OF INFLATION
PERCENT
100
OPTIMISTS
90
REBOUNDERS
80
70
PESSIMISTS
23
60
50
40
30
30
28
27
20
10
0
MARCH 6
MARCH 29
APRIL 18
MAY 3
MAY 26
JUNE 22
ASSESSMENT OF INTEREST RATES
PERCENT
100
OPTIMISTS
90
REBOUNDERS
80
70
PESSIMISTS
24
60
50
40
31
30
26
20
21
10
0
MARCH 6
MARCH 29
APRIL 18
MAY 3
MAY 26
JUNE 22
REAGAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM
HELP OR HURT THE ECONOMY?
PERCENT
100
HELP
90
HURT
80
70
NO OPINION
60
25
50
51
40
41
30
20
10
8
0
2
3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10
11
12
1
3
3
4
5
5
6
1981
1982
REAGAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM
HELPFUL TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU?
PERCENT
100
HELPFUL
90
NOT HELPFUL
80
70
NO OPINION
26
60
56
50
40
40
30
20
10
4
0
2
5
8
10
10
11
12
12
12
1
3
3
4
4
5
5
1981
1982
REAGAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM
FAIR OR UNFAIR?
PERCENT
100
FAIR
90
UNFAIR
80
70
NO OPINION
27
60
50
43
45
40
30
20
10
7
0
2
5
10
10
11
12
12
12
1
3
3
4
4
5
6
1981
1982
28
Why Fair or Unfair?
"Any why do you feel that Reagan's proposed economic program is
(fair/unfair)? And what else? What else? And any other reasons you
feel that Reagan's proposed economic program is (fair/unfair)?"
Percent
Tax cuts - Positive
2
Reduce government spending - Positive
7
Reduce government bureaucracy - Positive
2
Help people - Positive
9
Reagan doing a good job
10
Reduce unemployment - Positive
3
Economy - Positive
3
Inflation - Positive
2
Interest rate - Positive
1
Reduce welfare - Positive
5
Reagan - Honest
1
Short term problems
4
Problems already exist
1
Fair - General positive
10
Tax cuts - Negative
3
Too much government spending
1
Too much defense
1
Budget cutback - Negative
6
Hurts people - General
19
Hurts the elderly
6
Hurts minorities
1
Favors rich
14
Reagan not doing a good job
4
Unemployment - Negative
7
Favor big business - Negative
2
Economy - Negative
1
Inflation - Negative
1
Interest rates - Negative
2
Hurts education
1
Unfair - General negative
5
No opinion
10
REAGAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM
WILL IT REDUCE INFLATION?
PERCENT
100
WILL REDUCE
90
WILL NOT
REDUCE
80
70
NO OPINION
60
29
52
50
42
40
30
20
10
6
0
2
5
9
10
10
11
12
12
12
1
3
3
4
5
6
1981
1982
REAGAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM
WILL IT INCREASE EMPLOYMENT?
PERCENT
100
WILL
INCREASE
90
WILL NOT
INCREASE
80
70
NO OPINION
30
60
52
50
43
40
30
20
10
5
0
2
9
12
12
12
1
3
3
4
4
5
6
1981
1982
REAGAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM
WILL IT BALANCE THE BUDGET?
PERCENT
100
WILL BALANCE
90
WILL NOT
BALANCE
80
70
NO OPINION
63
60
31
50
40
31
30
20
10
6
0
MARCH 6
MARCH 29
APRIL 2
APRIL 18
MAY 26
JUNE 22
STUDY
REAGAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM
WILL IT REDUCE INTEREST RATES?
WILL REDUCE 42%
32
NO OPINION 9%
WILL NOT REDUCE 49%
CUTTING TAXES
As YOU MAY KNOW, THE FEDERAL BUDGET
CAN YOU RECALL A TIME IN THE
FOR NEXT YEAR WILL HAVE A DEFICIT
PAST WHEN THE FEDERAL TAX
OF AT LEAST 100 BILLION DOLLARS,
RATES WERE REDUCED?
(IF YES)
WITH THIS SIZE OF A DEFICIT, DO
AND WHEN WAS THAT ?
YOU THINK TAXES SHOULD BE CUT IN
HOPES OF STIMULATING THE ECONOMY OR
RAISED TO LOWER THE DEEICIT ?
SHOULD WE CUT THEM?
HAVE WE CUT THEM?
CUT TAXES 55%
YES/OTHER 15%
33
YES/EARLY 60'S 5%
YES/1981 8%
NEITHER/NO OPIN 24%
RAISE TAXES 21%
NO 72%
34
No ONE LIKE TO HAVE THEIR TAXES INCREASED; HOWEVER, WITH THE
PROSPECT OF A $100 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT NEXT YEAR, AND PERHAPS
LARGER DEFICITS IN THE FUTURE, TAXES MAY HAVE TO BE INCREASED
IN ORDER TO RAISE MORE REVENUE. I'M GOING TO READ YOU A LIST
OF TAX OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, AND I'D LIKE YOU TO
RATE EACH ONE ON A SCALE WHERE A MINUS 5 MEANS YOU STRONGLY
OPPOSE THAT PLAN, WHILE A PLUS 5 MEANS YOU STRONGLY FAVOR
THE PLAN. A ZERO THEREFORE MEANS THAT YOU NEITHER FAVOR NOR
OPPOSE THE PLAN, BUT ARE NEUTRAL ABOUT IT. OF COURSE, YOU
MAY USE ANY NUMBER BETWEEN MINUS 5 AND PLUS 5 TO INDICATE
HOW MUCH YOU PERSONALLY FAVOR OR OPPOSE EACH PROPOSED TAX
INCREASE. THE FIRST ONE IS
How WOULD YOU RATE THAT ON
A MINUS 5, PLUS 5 SCALE ?
IMPOSING A NATIONAL SALES TAX OF 1% ON ALL ITEMS PURCHASED
IN THE UNITED STATES
ELIMINATING THE 10% FEDERAL INCOME TAX CUT THAT IS
SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1, 1983
RAISING THE TAX ON A PACK OF CIGARETTES BY 8 CENTS
IMPOSING A TAX ON OIL THAT WOULD RAISE THE PRICE OF
GASOLINE BY 5 CENTS A GALLON AT THE PUMP
REPEALING THE PRESENT LAW THAT LETS ONE COMPANY SELL
TAX BENEFITS IT CANNOT USE TO ANOTHER COMPANY WHO CAN
TAKE THESE BENEFITS TO REDUCE ITS TAXES
DOUBLING THE PRESENT TAX ON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
IMPOSING A WINDFALL PROFITS TAX ON DEREGULATED NATURAL GAS
THAT WOULD RAISE THE COST OF NATURAL GAS TO THE CONSUMER BY 10%
REPEALING THE DEDUCTIONS GIVEN ON FEDERAL INCOME TAXES FOR
PAYMENT OF STATE SALES TAXES
REQUIRING ALL CORPORATIONS THAT MAKE A PROFIT TO PAY A
MINIMUM CORPORATE TAX
LIMITING THE TAX DEDUCTIONS COMPANIES GET WHEN THEY PAY
FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE
IMPOSING A TAX ON OIL THAT WOULD RAISE THE PRICE OF GASOLINE
BY ABOUT 8 CENTS A GALLON
INCREASING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE PRESENT TAX LAWS BY HIRING
MORE IRS AGENTS TO SEE THAT TAXES OWED TO THE GOVERNMENT
ARE ACTUALLY PAID
TAX OPTIONS
PERCENT
100
39
22
POSITIVES
43
32
27
14
90
13
ZERO
80
13
70
8
71
22
35
NEGATIVES
65
60
64
14
20
50
46
44
40
35
30
20
10
0
NO TAX CUT
IRS AGENTS
INSUR DEDUCT
8¢ CIGS
ALCOHOL
MIN CORP
OPTION
TAX OPTIONS
PERCENT
100
76
74
45
POSITIVES
73
41
47
90
ZERO
80
70
36
NEGATIVES
60
34
15
50
21
40
40
30
29
9
20
14
22
11
17
10
12
9
ø
8¢ GAS
NAT GAS
5¢ GAS
SALES DEDUCT
HARBOR
SALES TAX
OPTION
37
Federal Budgeting Process
"The entire federal budget process is the most irresponsible, Mickey
Mouse arrangement that any governmental body has ever practiced."
Agree strongly
30%
Agree somewhat
24
Disagree somewhat
26
Disagree strongly
14
No opinion
6
38
Budget Options
"As you may know, the federal government will take in approximately
670 billion dollars in taxes and other revenue next year. It then has
to budget that money among the various federal agencies and programs.
I'd like to read to you two possible budgets for the United States.
Please tell me which of them you would prefer if you had to choose.
Budget A would spend, among other things, 1 billion dollars more for
education, training, employment and social programs; 3 billion dollars
more for social security, retirement benefits and other income
security programs; and 1 billion dollars more for energy than Budget B
would spend. But, Budget A would run a deficit of 16 billion dollars
greater than Budget B and therefore, some people believe Budget A
would be more inflationary. Which do you prefer, Budget A or
Budget B?"
Budget A
44%
Budget B
47
Neither
2
Don't know
7
39
Decision/Making/Information
FOREIGN POLICY AND ISSUES
IMPRESSION: EUROPEAN TRIP
GENERALLY SPEAKING, DO YOU THINK RONALD REAGAN MADE A FAVORABLE OR
UNFAVORABLE IMPRESSION ON OUR ALLIES IN EUROPE ? : WOULD YOU SAY IT
WAS VERY (FAVORABLE/UNFAVORABLE) OR JUST SOMEWHAT (FAVORABLE/
UNFAVORABLE) ?
OF TOTAL POPULATION
OF THOSE HEARD/READ
40
SMVHT FAVORABLE 33%
VERY FAVORABLE 26%
VERY FAVORABLE 16%
SMVHT UNFAVRBLE 7%
SMWT FAVRBLE 51%
NO OPINION 7%
VERY UNFAVORBLE 3%
VERY UNFAVORBLE 5%
SMWHT UNFAVRBLE 11%
NO OPINION 41%
41
Gaining Allied Respect
"How successful do you think Ronald Reagan has been in getting our
allies abroad to again respect the U.S. more? Would you say he has
been very successful, somewhat successful or not successful at all?"
Very successful
15%
Somewhat successful
62
Not successful at all
19
No opinion
4
REAGAN ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS
FROM WHAT YOU'VE HEARD AND READ, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING TWO
POSITIONS BEST DESCRIBES THE WAY RONALD REAGAN FEELS ABOUT
PERCENT NUCLEAR WEAPONS ?:
100
POSITION A
POSITION A: RONALD REAGAN BELIEVES THAT WE MUST BUILD AS MANY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN SO THAT WE WON'T BE PUSHED
90
AROUND BY THE RUSSIANS ANY MORE.
POSITION B: RONALD REAGAN BELIEVES THAT ONCE THE SOVIETS AND THE
UNITED STATES HAVE ABOUT THE SAME STRENGTH IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS
POSITION B
80
THEN NUCLEAR WEAPONS MUST BE REDUCED DRAMATICALLY TO ASSURE
LASTING PEACE AND SECURITY.
70
69
65
NEITHER/
DON'T KNOW
60
42
55
50
40
35
32
30
25
20
10
10
3
6
ø
APRIL 1-2, 1982
MAY 20-26, 1982
JUNE 16-22, 1982
STUDY
43
Thermometer Ratings
Now I'd like to get your feelings toward some people, organizations
and countries. I'm going to read you some names and I'd like you to
rate each one on a scale from 0 to 100, where the worst possible
person, group, or country -- in your judgment -- would get a rating of
0, while the best possible person, group or country would get a rating
of 100. Most things, of course, would be rated somewhere in between
those extremes.
Remember, we just want to know your opinion of these people,
institutions, and countries -- with 0 being the worst possible rating
and 100 being the best. If I name someone who you don't know too much
about, just tell me and we'll go on to the next one.
The first one is
-- how do you feel about
(him/her/it)?
Rating
Percent Responding
Italy
52
74%
Germany
56
82
Israel
51
84
England
65
89
Japan
55
86
Palestine Liberation Organization
17
81
Menachem Begin
49
79
ISRAELI ACTION JUSTIFIED?
IN YOUR OPINION, IS ISRAEL JUSTIFIED IN
SENDING TROOPS INTO LEBANON ?
OF TOTAL POPULATION
OF THOSE HEARD/READ
YES 44%
YES 31%
44
NO 28%
NO OPINION 16%
NO 40%
NO OPINION 41%
U.S. RESPONSE TO ISRAELI ACTION
Do YOU THINK THE UNITED STATES' RESPONSE TO ISRAEL'S ACTIONS IS
TOO TOUGH OR NOT TOUGH ENOUGH ?
OF TOTAL POPULATION
OF THOSE HEARD/READ
NT TOUGH ENOUGH 37%
45
TOO TOUGH 17%
NOT TOUGH ENGH 51%
TOO TOUGH 12%
ABOUT RIGHT 12%
NO OPINION 16%
NO OPINION 39%
ABOUT RIGHT 16%
MIDEAST SYMPATHIES
IN THE MIDEAST IN GENERAL, DO YOUR SYMPATHIES LIE
MORE WITH THE ISRAELIS, LEBANESE, SYRIANS, OR
PALESTINIANS ?
OF TOTAL POPULATION
OF THOSE HEARD/READ
ISRAELIS 44%
ISRAELIS 32%
46
LEBANESE 10%
SYRIANS 1%
PALESTINIANS 4%
LEBANESE 13%
NONE 10%
SYRIANS 2%
NO OPINION/ALL 21%
PALESTINIANS 6%
NO OPINION/ALL 43%
NONE 14%
47
Israeli Influence on U.S. Foreign Policy
"When it comes to the Mideast, Israel now has far too much influence
on the United States Congress and the State Department in developing
and implementing our foreign policy in this key area."
Agree strongly
30%
Agree somewhat
27
Disagree somewhat
19
Disagree strongly
11
No opinion
13
Decision/Making/Informati
48
OTHER ISSUES
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE CUTBACKS
MORE SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU THINK
IF WE HAVE TO CUT THE NUMBER OF
RONALD REAGAN HAS CUT THE NUMBER
EMPLOYEES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
THOSE WHO KEEP THEIR JOBS SHOULD BE
...
ENOUGH, MORE THAN ENOUGH OR NOT
THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE BEST JOB,
ENOUGH DURING HIS FIRST YEAR AS
NOT NECESSARILY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
PRESIDENT ?
THERE THE LONGEST.
MORE THN ENOUGH 17%
STRONGLY AGREE 69%
49
ENOUGH 27%
NO OPINION 2%
NO OPINION 10%
STRNG DISAGREE 7%
SOMWHT DISAGREE 6%
NOT ENOUGH 46%
SOMEWHAT AGREE 16%
EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?
As YOU MAY KNOW, UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE CAN PRESENTLY RECEIVE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS
FOR A MAXIMUM OF 39 WEEKS. SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT DURING THIS TIME OF RECESSION, THE
GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXTEND THIS TIME PERIOD TO 52 WEEKS, EVEN IF IT COSTS ONE BILLION DOLLARS,
OTHERS SAY THE TIME PERIOD SHOULD NOT BE EXTENDED BECAUSE IT WILL COST TOO MUCH. How ABOUT
YOU ? Do YOU THINK CONGRESS SHOULD EXTEND THE PERIOD OF TIME INDIVIDUALS CAN RECEIVE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS, OR SHOULD THEY LEAVE IT AS IT IS NOW ? AND DO YOU THINK
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS TAXABLE INCOME, OR NOT ?
EXTENSION
TAXATION
EXTEND 40%
TAX 24%
50
SHORTEN 1%
NO OPINION 3%
NO OPINION 4%
DON'T TAX 73%
DON'T EXTEND 55%
Thermometer Ratings Over Time
Study
Aug
Sep
Sep
Oct
Oct
Nov
Nov 30- Dec
Dec
Jan
Feb 25
Mar
April
Jun
12-16
9-15
18-28
5-14
17-26
9-18
Dec 9
13-16
18-22
11-19
Mar 6
20-29
12-18
16-
X
XI
TRI
TRII
TRIII
TRIV
TRV
TRVI
VII
RNC1
RNC4
RNC5
RNC7
RNC
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%
Walter Mondale
56
54
55
57
54
55
53
52
52
52
50
52
52
50
Ted Kennedy
47
*
50
51
48
53
41
49
51
49
49
54
53
51
Caspar Weinberger
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
53
*
*
50
*
*
*
Drew Lewis
55
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
44
*
*
*
Alexander Haig
*
*
*
*
*
*
54
*
47
*
49
*
*
*
Ray Donovan
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
42
*
*
33
Ronald Reagan
72
70
64
69
67
66
64
61
61
63
56
51
58
58
James Watt
*
*
39
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
40
Richard Richards
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
42
Charles Mannatt
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
43
Tip O'Neill
*
*
53
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
50
Menachem Begin
*
*
50
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
49
Republicans
61
60
55
58
58
*
57
56
55
55
53
52
*
54
Democrats
55
55
57
58
56
*
58
57
57
5º
57
60
*
60
NATIONAL PARTY TV ADS
WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HAVE YOU SEEN ANY TELEVISION ADVERTISING DONE BY THE
NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES? THAT IS, COMMERCIALS DONE FOR THE NATIONAL PARTIES
IN GENERAL, NOT FOR SPECIFIC CANDIDATES ? (IF YES) WHICH PARTY ? (IF GOP,
DEMOCRAT, OR OTHER) WERE YOU FAVORABLY OR UNFAVORABLY IMPRESSED WITH THE
COMMERCIALS ?
RNC 9: MAY 26, 1982
RNC 10: JUNE 23, 1982
YES/BOTH 2%
YES/BOTH 2%
YES/OTHER 3%
YES/OTHER 2%
52
YES/GOP 8%
YES/GOP 9%
NO/NONE 87%
NO/NONE 87%
Decision/Making/Information
53
National Television Ads
==
"Within the last few weeks, have you seen any television advertising
done by the national political parties? That is, commercials done for
the national parties in general, not for specific candidates?"
"Which party?"
"Were you favorably or unfavorably impressed with the commercial (s) ?"
RNC 9
RNC10
May 20-26
June 15-22
1982
1982
Yes/GOP/favorably
2%
3%
Yes/GOP/unfavorably
4
5
Yes/GOP/no opinion
2
1
Yes/Democrats/favorably
1
1
Yes/Deomcrats/unfavorably
1
1
Yes/Democrats/no opinion
1
0
Yes/Other/favorably
0
0
Yes/Other/unfavorably
0
0
Yes/Other/no opinion
0
0
Yes/Both (Deomcrat and GOP)
7
2
No/Haven't seen any
87
87
1982 CONGRESSIONAL VOTE W/PUSH
THINKING ABOUT THE 1982 ELECTIONS FOR A MOMENT, IF THE 1982 ELECTIONS FOR U.S. CONGRESS WERE
BEING HELD TODAY, WOULD YOU BE VOTING FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE OR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
IN YOUR DISTRICT ? WHICH WAY DO YOU LEAN AS OF TODAY -- TOWARD THE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE ?
PERCENT
100
REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE
90
DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE
80
70
UNDECIDED
60
54
50
50
40
37
30
20
10
10
0
MARCH 6, 1982
MARCH 29
APRIL 18
MAY 26
JUNE 22
STUDY