I.L..JTc1ERS Eagielon institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey / Qlbc UIL-1LCbçICr/EAGLETON POLL

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1 -more- attribute this copyrighted information to the Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll. A story based on the survey findings presented in this release and back release after 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 25. We ask users to properly also use this information In their Thursday editions. Electronic media may ground memo will appear in Thursday s Star-Ledger. Other newspapers may RELEASE INFORMATION RELEASE: SL/EP14-1 (EP64-1) BOB CARTER FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 26, 1987 CONTACT: CLIFF ZUKIN OR I.L..JTc1ERS Eagielon institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey / PIE SlATE 1)NM?SJN Of NEW JERSEY February 25 from (201) (Rutgers Feature Phone). ATTENTION RADIO STATIONS: Audio is available after 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays selling arms to Iran for the release of hostages--by a margin of 70 to 20 percent, New Jerseyans overwhelmingly disapprove of the idea of their government give Reagan the negative grades of only fair or poor. excellent or good for his handling of the Iran-Contra affair. Three-quarters residents, shows only one-in-five giving the President positive marks of The survey, conducted between February 16 and 23 with 800 New Jersey not really in charge of what goes on in his administration. in the matter of aid to the Contras, that his administration has been trying to cover up some of the facts about the Iranian arms deal, and that the President is down, with a majority of New Jerseyans feeling he has not been telling the truth The latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll finds Reagan s job performance rating critical of the President s handling of the controversy. arms affair, even before the release of the Tower Commission report expected to be Ronald Reagan s stature in New Jersey is being dragged down by the Iran-Contra JOB RATING DROPS; TRUTHFULNESS OUESTIONED IRAN-CONTRA ARMS AFFAIR HURTS REAGAN IN NEW JERSEY Qlbc UIL-1LCbçICr/EAGLETON POLL

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3 EPG4-1 (SL/EP14-1) Page 2 with the remainder undecided. Less than one-half of Garden State residents accept the administration s justification of its actions in dealing with Iran. About equal numbers say they actually view the Iran situation as an arms-forhostages trade as feel other concerns were behind the administration s policy. Fully half the public believes Mr. Reagan was lying when he said he did not know that the money from the Iranian arms sale went to help the Contras fighting against the government of Nicaragua. Another 13 percent are unsure of the President s truthfulness; only 37 percent say they are convinced he is telling the truth. The vast majorlty--83 percent--believe the Reagan administration is trying to cover up some of the facts surrounding the Iranian arms deal. Cliff Zukin, director of the Poll, commented, While there is a widespread belief that this policy turned out to be an embarrassing mistake, there is much less a feeling that Reagan has been dishonest than that he has not really been in control of the situation. As of now, more feel he let the situation get out of hand than that he orchestrated It; more attribute responsibility to him than blame. The poll suggests that Reagan, somewhat ironically, may have escaped more of the direct blame because of the perception that he is not fully in control of his staff in the White House or National Security Council. Only 35 percent think that Reagan is in charge of what goes on in his administration. In comparison, 56 percent feel that other people are really running the government most of the time. The President s overall job performance rating has slipped noticeably over the last five months. An October, 1986 survey found positive assessments outnumbering negative ones by a margin of two-to-one. Positive comments continued to run ahead of negative ones in the February survey, although by a much narrower margin of 57 to 42 percent. Additionally, more offer unfavorable -more-

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5 percent continue to classify Reagan as a strong leader. The recent Rutgers despite the Iran-Contra controversy. While down from 75 percent in 1984, 63 Ronald Reagan continues to be viewed as an effective leader for the country, affairs and relations with the Soviet Union. than favorable evaluations of Reagan s handling of the nation s economy, foreign Copyright, The Eagleton Institute, Newark Star-Ledger, nominating season. affair to dominate the news for the next six months and into the new presidential in the context for the 1988 presidential election. We can expect the Iran-Contra built up over the last six years has faded, and this will be an important factor than other politicians. Certainly much of the glow the Reagan presidency has Zukin commented, The real surprise here Is not that positive assessments outnumber negative ones, but that so many say that Ronald Reagan is no better has less and the remainder classifying him as about the same as others. and integrity than most people in public life, with half that number saying he survey also finds 28 percent of state residents saying Reagan has more honesty EP64-1 (SL/EP14-1) Page 3

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7 arlic %(ae-icbwi/eagleton POLL BACKGROUND MEMO--REL.EASE SL/EP14-1 (EP64-1). THURSDAY. FEBRUARY The latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll was conducted between February 16 and 23, 1987, when a random sample of New Jerseyans, (18 years and older) was interviewed by telephone. Figures presented for the total sample of 800 have a sampling error of ±3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval. Sampling error is the probable difference in results between interviewing everyone in a population versus a scientific sample taken from that population. Sampling error does not take into account other possible sources of error inherent in any study of public opinion. The questions and figures referred to in this release are as follows: How would you rate the job Ronald Reagan is doing as president--excellent, good, only fair or poor? Excellent Good Only Fair Poor Don t Know Total jjfl February % 44% 27% 15% 1% 100% (800) October (800) July (800) February (600) August (800) April-May (1000) April (804) Party--February Democrat (221) r --Independent (329) \ --Republican (200) How would you rate Reagan s handling of the nation s foreign affairs? Excellent Good Only fair Poor Don t know Total jjfl February % 24% 36% 28% 4% 100% (800) April-May (500) April (808) October (804) How would you rate Reagan s handling of relations with the Soviet Union? Excellent Good Only fair Poor Don t know Total fl February % 31% 34% 21% 5% 100% (800) April-May (500) April (808) How would you rate Reagan s handling of the problems of the nation s economy? Excellent Good Only fair Poor Don t know Total flu. February % 35% 30% 20% 4% 100% (800) April-May (500) April (808) THE STAlE IJNNEPSIIY Of NW JERV I{IJTcEItS Eagleton Institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey /

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9 leader for the country. Yes No Don t Know Total * Equals percent that agreed (a lot or a little) that Reagan has been a strong February % 33% 4% 100% (800) April * (804) Do you think than Ronald Reagan is a strong leader, or not? --Republican (199) -Independent (329) -Democrat (221), Party--February 1987 February % 16% 33% 43% 4% 100% (800) Excellent Good fair Poor know Total Only Don t you say excellent, good, only fair, or poor? How would you rate Reagan s handling of the Iran--Contra arms affair--would --Republican (200) --Independent (329) --Democrat (221) Party--February 1987 February % 56% 9% 100% (800) in Charge Government Know Total Reagan Others Run Don t L in his administration, or do you think that most of the time other people are ( really running the government? Do you think that most of the time Ronald Reagan is in charge of what goes on February % 14% 57% 1% 100% (800) More Less Same Know Total Don t public life, less, or about the same amount? Do you think Ronald Reagan has more honesty and integrity than most people in EP64-1 (SL/EPI4-1) -2-

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11 February % 44% 7% 10% 100% (799) Hostages Reasons Equal Know Total jjfl To Release For Other Both! Don t for other reasons? this mainly as a way to get American hostages in Lebanon released, or mainly EP64-1 (SL/EP14-1) -3- ( -Republican (199) -Independent (329) --Democrat (221) Party--February 1987 February % 11% 5% 99% (799) Covering lip Covering Up Know Total Yes-- No--Not Don t about the Iranian arms deal, or not? Do you think the Reagan administration is trying to cover up some of the facts --Republican (199) --Independent (329) --Democrat (221) Party--February 1987 February % 50% 13% 100% (799) Telling Truth Was Lying Know Total La). Don t that? Nicaragua. Do you think he was telling the truth or was he lying when he said sale was going to help the Contras who are fighting against the government of Ronald Reagan has said he did not know that the money from the Iranian arms February % 70% 9% 99% (798) Approve Disapprove Know Total Don t Iran in order to get American hostages in Lebanon released? Do you approve or disapprove of the United States government selling arms to As you may know, the Reagan administration sold military weapons and spare ( parts to the government of Iran during the past year. Do you think they did

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