Americans Believe Claims Against
Clinton
6.56 a.m. ET (1156 GMT) March 17, 1998
WASHINGTON Sixty percent of Americans are inclined to believe
President Clinton has been involved in a pattern of sexual
misconduct, according to an ABC News poll released Tuesday.
The poll found that 30 percent believed the president did not
engage in such misconduct and 11 percent had no opinion.
Nearly two-thirds, or 63 percent, believe he should resign if he lied
about it under oath, according to the poll, taken Monday following
the appearance of former White House Volunteer Kathleen Willey
on CBS. Willey told the network Clinton groped her ¢ touching
her breasts and putting her hand on his genitals ¢ in the White
House near the Oval Office in 1993.
The ABC poll was conducted by telephone among a random
sample of 655 adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus
four percent. While there was apparently some damage from the
Willey appearance, 70 percent said he should remain in office
based on what is known now and 63 percent approved of his
performance in office.
The rates for personal popularity, honesty and personal morals
were the worst of his presidency, the poll showed.
To the statement, "He is honest and trustworthy;'' 60 percent
answered no and 35 percent answered yes, with the remainder
undecided.
To the statement, "He has high personal moral and ethical
standards;'' 66 percent answered no, 28 percent answered yes and
the rest were undecided.
To the question, "Do you have a favorable or unfavorable
impression of Clinton?'' 50 percent answered "favorable'' and 46
percent voted "unfavorable''.
On Willey's accusation, those polled showed an even split on
whether they believed her or the President and 58 percent
believed it was nobody's business but that of the two people
involved.
If the President lied under oath and didn't resign, 53 percent
would favor impeachment and 50 percent would favor
impeachment if he lied under oath about the incident with Willey.
On the plus side, 78 percent said he had done a good job with the
economy; 63 percent called him a strong leader and 62 percent
said he understood the problems of "average people.''
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