With all the hooplah around Bush plumbing new depths in his popularity polls (one poll had him at an all-time-low 35 percent a couple of weeks ago), I thought it might be interesting to put that number in some sort of historical context. So, here's a few interesting Presidential job-approval numbers from recent history.

Bush 43, a week ago (low): 35
Bush 43, at 2004 election: 53
Bush 43, at start of Iraq War: 68
Bush 43, 10/8/01 (all-time post-FDR high): 92
Bush 43, 9/6/01: 54
Bush 43, on taking office: 57

Clinton, on leaving office: 68
Clinton, after impeachment: 64
Clinton, after Starr Report released: 60
Clinton, "I did not have sex with that woman" (high): 73
Clinton, at 1996 election: 60
Clinton, May 1993 (low): 36
Clinton, on taking office: 56

Bush 41, on leaving office: 56
Bush 41, just before 1992 election: 34
Bush 41, August 92 (low): 29
Bush 41, after the Gulf War (high): 89
Bush 41, on taking office: 51

Reagan, on leaving office: 63
Reagan, after Iran-Contra hearings: 47
Reagan, May 86 (high): 68
Reagan, at 1984 election: 61
Reagan, Jan 83 (low): 35
Reagan, May 81 (high): 68
Reagan, after assassination attempt: 67
Reagan, on taking office: 51

Carter, on leaving office: 34
Carter, at 1980 election: 31
Carter, after failed hostage rescue: 43
Carter, after hostages taken: 38
Carter, July 79 (low): 28
Carter, after Camp David accords: 49
Carter, after Panama Canal Treaty: 59
Carter, March 77 (high): 75
Carter, on taking office: 66

Ford, on leaving office: 53
Ford, Mar 75 (low): 37
Ford, Jan 75 (low): 37
Ford, after pardoning Nixon: 50
Ford, August 74 (high): 74
Ford, on taking office: 71

Nixon, on resignation: 24
Nixon, Jan 74 (low): 23
Nixon, Jan 73 (high): 67
Nixon, at 1972 election: 62
Nixon, after Vietnam cease-fire: 50
Nixon, Nov 69 (high): 67
Nixon, on taking office: 59

Johnson, on leaving office: 49
Johnson, Aug 68 (low): 35
Johnson, Mar 64 (high): 80
Johnson, on taking office: 78

Kennedy, before assassination: 58
Kennedy, Sep 63 (low): 56
Kennedy, after Cuban Missile Crisis: 74
Kennedy, after Bay of Pigs (high): 83
Kennedy, on taking office: 72

Eisenhower, April 58 (low): 48
Eisenhower, Dec 56 (high): 79

Truman, Feb 52 (all-time post-FDR low): 22
Truman, June 45 (high): 87

Roosevelt, Jan 42 (high): 84
Roosevelt, Aug 39 (low): 48