r snows only 6 percent of the sample felt the federal government was not at all corrupt

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1 I While the effects of Watergate continue to adversely influence New 7erseyans view of the federal government, attitudes about corruption at the state level have changed offered no opinion. Poll shows that 85 percent of those questioned thought the federal government was corrupt compared to 12 percent giving this response in The remainder of each sample sharply over the past year. Local government continues to be seen as the least corrupt level of government. According to the latest New Jersey Poll, conducted by the Eagleton the federal government was very corrupt compared to 15 percent who gave the same response to an Eagleton survey conducted in March Further, the current New Jersey Institute of Rutgers University during early April, 33 percent of those questioned thought RUT GE R S UNIV ER SI TI The State University of New /ersey RELEASE 4 PflR RELEASE: \TDNESDAY AFTERNOON, TL-IEEAGLETDN INSTITUTE OF POLITICS p APRIL 24, 1974 If ood Lawn, Nd/son Campus New Bn:nsrvick. Sea friscy 0890! CONTACT: STE PHEN SALMORE Tel /0- more- important reason for the New Jersey public s more favorable view of corruption in According to Dr. Stephen A. Salmore, Director of the New Jersey Poll, saying that state government was very corrupt. before the guhernatorial election, the New Jersey Poll showed 22 percent of the sample primary, 14 percent called state government very corrupt and by October 1973, just corrupt. However, in the May 1973 Eagleton survey, one month before the gubernatorial represents a slight increase from March 1973 when 8 percent termed state government very very corrupt, 69 percent somewhat corrupt, and 7 percent not at all corrupt. This When asked about corruption in state government, 10 percent termed it r snows only 6 percent of the sample felt the federal government was not at all corrupt to some degree compared to 73 percent who felt that way in March The current poll

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3 .NEWJDRSEY POLL, RELEASE % 4 PAGE 2 APRIL 24, 1974 state government is their belief that something is being done about the problem. Salrnore r i-ted that 60 percent of the current sample felt that governmental agencies were doing a good job of discovering and eliminating corruption among public officials in the state. Salmore added that 65 percent of the sample felt that a better job is being done now than in the past in handling corruption. When asked about corruption in local government, 10 percent viewed it as very corrupt, 48 percent as somewhat corrupt, and 29 percent as not at all corrupt. Attitudes about corruption in government at the federal and local levels differ sharply among urban, rural and suburban residents. Respondents living in New ersey s six largest cities are almost equally likely to see federal government as very corrupt as local government --21 percent versus 19 percent. Recent indictments and convictions of city officials in Newark, Jersey City ac Damden clearly have had an impact. Among suburban residents, 34 percent see :federal government as very corrupt while only 10 percent respond this way about local government. An even larger 40 percent of rural residents say that federal government is very corrupt with only 10 percent giving this assessment of local government. The Tenth New Jersey Poll was conducted by telephone from the Eagieton Institute of Politics, in New Brunswick, N.J. between March 27 and April 3. A scientifically selected random sample of 1222 New Jersey residents 18 years of age or older were interviewed. 30 Copyright, The Eagleton Institute, 1974 C;

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5 C corrupt? corrupt?) corrupt?) POLITICAL REPORTERS THE EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS Wood Laun,,Vrifson Campus j\cw Brunswick, Ncw Jersey os9oi 7W. 201-S Somewhat corrupt Somewhat corrupt Somewhat corrupt Apdl 1974 March 1973 FROM: STEPHEN A. SALMORE SUBJECT: THE TENTH NEW JERSEY POLL, RELEASE If 4, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON APRIL 24, 1974 The following questions were used in writing this release, In your opinion, is your local government very corrupt, somewhat corrupt, or not at all Very corrupt 10% 8% Not at all Corrupt P t Know How about your state government? (Is it very corrupt, somewhat corrupt, or not at all April 1974 October 1973 May 1973 March 1973 Very corrupt 10% 22% 14% 8% Not at all comipt Don t Know How about the federal government? (Is it very corrupt, somewhat corrupt, or not at all April 1974 May 1973 March 1073 Very corrupt 33% 29% 15% Not at all cormt Don t know RUTGERS UNIVERSITY The State Univcrsüy of New Jersey

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7 POLITICAL REPOflERS PAGE 2 RELEASE If4 Do you think governmental agencies in the state are doing a good job of discovering and r -jinating corruption among public officials in the state? Yes 60% No 27 Don t know 13 Do you think a better job is being done now than in the past? Yes 65% Nb 19 Don t know 16 The following two questions were not used but may be of irterest to you: How much have you read or heard during the past year about corruption in government--a great deal, a fair amount, very little, or nothing at all? April 1974 May 1973 March 1973 A great deal 68% 59% 54% A irarnount little Nothing at all Don t know 1 3 In general, do you think the New Jersey state government is more cornipt or less corrupt than governments in other states? April 1974 March 1973 More 15% 12% Same Don t know C

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