Poll shows deep skepticism about Senate trial

By Keating Holland/CNN

January 9, 1999
Web posted at: 3:11 p.m. EST (2011 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, January 9) -- Half of all Americans believe most U.S. senators will not "do impartial justice according to the Constitution," as they promised in their oaths this week, in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, and only one-third approve of how the Senate is handling the proceedings, according to a new CNN/TIME Poll.

Also in this poll:

Questions and results
Approval ratings of Congress, Rehnquist
Impact of Senate trial

Most Americans would like to see the trial last less than a week, but most believe it will last more than a month. If the Senate calls witnesses, 53 percent think the Senate should hear testimony from ex-White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

About half also believe the Senate should call presidential friend Vernon Jordan; Clinton's secretary, Betty Currie; and Independent Counsel Ken Starr to the stand -- and two-thirds think Clinton himself should testify.

But topping the public's wish list is no trial at all, with 59 percent saying the Senate should end the trial immediately. Sixty-two percent do not want to see the president removed from office, and his approval rating stands at 67 percent.

The survey's results are based on interviews with 1,067 adults conducted January 7, and it has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Questions and results:

Do you think that most U.S. senators, in their role as jurors in President Clinton's trial, will "do impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws"?
Yes No	41% 50%
If a trial is held in the Senate, how long would you like it to last?
Less than a week 1-4 weeks More than 4 weeks	49% 31% 12%
And how long do you expect it would last?
Less than a week 1-4 weeks More than 4 weeks	5% 34% 51%
As part of the trial, the Senate may hear testimony from a number of witnesses. Do you think the Senate should or should not call each of the following to testify?
Bill Clinton Monica Lewinksy Betty Currie Vernon Jordan Ken Starr Linda Tripp	Yes 66% 53% 55% 51% 51% 42%	No 32% 44% 41% 42% 43% 53%
In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Senate is handling the impeachment trial of President Clinton?
Approve Disapprove	35% 47%
In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Clinton is handling his job as president?
Approve Disapprove	67% 30%

Approval ratings of Congress, Rehnquist

Impeachment has lowered the public's feelings for the Republicans in Congress, and only a third approve of how the Republicans in the Senate are handling the impeachment trial.

Half approve of how the Democrats in the Senate are handling the trial. Nearly half the country has a favorable view of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, but more than four people in 10 aren't familiar enough with him to have an opinion.

By contrast, most Americans have an unfavorable view of Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, who offered a reward to anyone who could prove having an "adulterous relationship" with a member of Congress.

Impact of Senate trial

What effect will the impeachment trial have on the country? Already, Americans seem to have recovered from their post-impeachment shock.

Favorable Opinion of...
Democrats in Congress Republicans in Congress	Now 55% 59%	September 37% 48%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Do you approve of how the Republicans in the Senate and Democrats in the Senate are handling the impeachment trial of President Clinton?
Democrats Republicans	Yes 50% 35%	No 37% 55%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Please tell me whether you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable impressions of William Rehnquist, or whether you are not familiar enough to say one way or another.
Favorable Unfavorable Unfamiliar	48% 10% 42%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts
Please tell me whether you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable impressions of Larry Flynt, or whether you are not familiar enough to say one way or another.
Favorable Unfavorable Unfamiliar	21% 51% 27%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Last October, 78 percent felt that things were going very well or fairly well in the country. Immediately after the House impeachment vote, that number plummeted to 60 percent.

Now, it is back up to 74 percent. A majority say that the economy, the stock market and the country's ability to conduct foreign affairs will not be damaged during the impeachment trial.

More than half -- 54 percent -- say the ability of the federal government to operate effectively will not be damaged during the trial and 59 percent say that the country's ability to deal with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein also will not be damaged.

People who say things are going very well or fairly well in the country these days:
Now December October	74% 60% 78%

Do you think each of the following will be damaged or will not be damaged while the Senate trial of President Clinton is taking place?
Economy Stock market Foreign policy	Yes 33% 36% 44%	No 64% 67% 51%

Do you think the ability of the federal government to operate effectively will be damaged or will not be damaged while the Senate trial of President Clinton is taking place?
Yes No	43% 64%

Do you think the nation's ability to deal with Saddam Hussein will be damaged or will not be damaged while the Senate trial of President Clinton is taking place?
Yes No	37% 59%