Unemployment vs. G.H.W. Bush Disapproval Nationa Unemployment Rate
Unemployment rose appreciably over the course of the first President Bush’s second year in office — from 5.4% in January 1990 to 6.3% by the end of the year. But the lead up to the invasion of Iraq produced a typical rally around the president in times of foreign crisis that kept Bush’s approval ratings quite healthy. America’s quick and relatively painless Gulf War victory sent his approval scores to record highs in the first quarter of 1991 obviating the political impact of a steady rise in unemployment … but not for long. Over the course of the remainder of the year, Bush’s approval rating tumbled, falling from a high of 86% in March to 50% in December. Over that period, the unemployment rate rose from 6.4% to 7.3%.
For much of Clinton’s first term, unemployment rates and public judgments of the president were not in close correspondence. Unemployment declined from above 7% at the time he took office to 5.5% by the end of 1994. However, Clinton’s ratings were quite mixed for much of this time reflecting political difficulties (the collapse of health care reform, and bitter fights over his crime bill and economic packages), as well as controversies over his past personal and financial involvements. However, Clinton’s ratings began to improve in the fall of 1995 as a result of a successful showdown with Newt Gingrich over a shutdown of the federal government. Unemployment remained low in 1996, and Clinton’s ratings rose.
Unemployment vs. G.H.W. Bush Disapproval  | Disapprove  | Nationa Unemployment Rate  | 70  | 60  | 6. 8  | 50  | 40  | 30  | 20  | 10  | Jan '90  | July '92  | Jan 89  | July '89  | July '90  | Jan '91  | July '91  | Jan '92  | Jan 93  | PewResearch enter  | Sources: Gallup, U.S. Bureau oflabor Statistics 