Poll^ http://swampland.time.com/2013/04/23/poll-george-w-bush-increasingly-popular-continues-trend-of-former-presidents/ [quote]George W. Bush’s presidential approval rating has risen from 37% in January 2009 to 47%, according to a new ABC/Washington Post poll. It continues the trend of presidents becoming more popular once they leave office. Here is a comparison from two Gallup polls looking at the past seven presidents. The first figure is from 2012, gauging the percentage of people who think history will judge the former president to be at least “average.” The second number is the average approval rating of the president while he was in office. George W. Bush · 2012: 53% · 2001-2009: 49.4% Bill Clinton · 2012: 88% (60% said he will be remembered as an “outstanding” President) · 1993-2001: 55.1% George H.W. Bush · 2012: 79% · 1989-1993: 60.9% Ronald Reagan · 2012: 89% (69% “outstanding”) · 1981-1989: 52.8% Jimmy Carter · 2012: 59% · 1977-1981: 45.5% Gerald Ford · 2012: 75% · 1974-1977: 47.2% Richard Nixon · 2012-42% · 1969-1974- 49% With the exception of Nixon, who resigned in disgrace, at least a majority of Americans believe each of the past seven presidents will be considered by history to be “average.” During office, however, sitting Presidents are judged much more harshly. Read more: http://swampland.time.com/2013/04/2...ues-trend-of-former-presidents/#ixzz2RK0nOUOJ[/quote] :/ History fades with memory :/