U.S. Presidents Ranked by Approval Rating

Nixon’s time in office had major highs and lows. He opened relations with China, signed key arms control agreements with the Soviet Union, and ended the U.S. draft. The economy grew for a while, and he easily won re-election in 1972 with one of the biggest landslides in history.

Then came Watergate. As details of the cover-up surfaced, Nixon’s approval rating crashed. Americans felt betrayed, and his reputation never recovered. Facing certain impeachment, he resigned in 1974 — the only U.S. president to ever do so. His average approval ended just under 50%, scarred by scandal.