U.S. Presidents Ranked by Approval Rating

Johnson achieved some of the most important domestic reforms in history. He signed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and Medicare into law. His leadership transformed social policy and expanded opportunities for millions of Americans.

But Vietnam overshadowed everything. As U.S. casualties grew, the public blamed him for the war’s escalation. Protests filled the streets, and television brought the conflict into living rooms every night. By 1968, his once sky-high approval had collapsed, leaving him worn down and unpopular despite his achievements.