WASHINGTON DC (CNN) -- A new poll suggests that President Bush is the most unpopular president in modern American history.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Thursday indicates that 71 percent of the American public disapprove of how Bush is handling his job as president.

"No president has ever had a higher disapproval rating in any CNN or Gallup Poll; in fact, this is the first time that any president's disapproval rating has cracked the 70 percent mark," said Keating Holland, CNN's polling director.

"Bush's approval rating, which stands at 28 percent in our new poll, remains better than the all-time lows set by Harry Truman and Richard Nixon [22 percent and 24 percent, respectively], but even those two presidents never got a disapproval rating in the 70s," Holland said. "The previous all-time record in CNN or Gallup polling was set by Truman, 67 percent disapproval in January 1952."

While Gallup polling goes back to the 1930s, it wasn't until the Truman years that they began surveying monthly approval ratings.

CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider adds, "He is more unpopular than Richard Nixon was just before he resigned from the presidency in August 1974."

President Nixon's disapproval rating in August 1974 stood at 66 percent.

The poll also indicates that support for the war in Iraq has never been lower. Thirty percent of those questioned favored the war, while 68 percent opposed it.

"Americans are growing more pessimistic about the war," Holland said. "In January, nearly half believed that things were going well for the U.S. in Iraq; now that figure has dropped to 39 percent."

The numbers on the Iraq war come on the five-year anniversary of Bush's "Mission Accomplished" moment on board the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, when he proclaimed that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

The record-low support for the war in a CNN poll could be one reason behind the president's unpopularity, but it probably is not the only one.

"Support for the war, the assessment of the economy and approval of Mr. Bush are all about the same -- bad," Schneider said.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted by telephone from Monday through Wednesday among 1,008 adult Americans.

The poll's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.


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He is the most unpopular?

He actually beat Johnson and Nixon? wow!!!

Now, proportionally speaking and way before polls, John Adams was the most unpopular.

Oh the good old days of tar and feathers..

Add me to the 71% disapproval.

Well, he managed to hang on for almost 8 years, so I guess he is the most successful and unpopular president on record.

funny thing..
cause he wasent a exactly a STAR 4 years ago when they re-elected his ass..
so why complain now...

Cause we all know they get a bit sloppy during the final term in office..

Bush was unpopular with many long before 911 and "The War On Terror". It is surprising he lasted so long.

The ultimate cowboy president.

Gosh!
He is so unsophisticated I start to cry when I see him talking. But the French guy (Sarkozy) is not much better ... he looks like he is drunk all the time.

I know all you canadians wish you were part of America but your not so you cant vote in our elections therefor you can't count in the dissaproval..


Much as I dislike the guy I would still like to have a beer with him.

No thanks Jeff. We Canadians are quite happy living 'up here' whilst providing the United States with our resources; you know, oil, water, lumber, etc.

P.S. - And even If I can't vote...I lived in the States. I paid me taxes. Go Obama.

Yes, that's what presidents are for ... to have beer with them.

I have always been amused with the anticipation of certain people (a large portion of population eventually) who wish a president / prime minister to be their "best buddy" - a guy suitable to have beer with. Or even a barbecue in the backyard.

And since birds of a feather flock together more & more presidents / prime ministers appear to be vulgar / common / pupulistic / with questionable IQ (or at least EQ) ... a reflection of an average Joe.

IMO president should be a man / woman who is seen as the best possible boss (making good & right decisions, being fair & "in touch", leading the team (= nation), be able to motivate people & persuade to move forward etc).

And usually "buddy who is good to have beer with" ain't a person with the above listed qualities.