CBS News Monthly Poll #2, March 1998

This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, as well as their views of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan. Those queried were also asked what they felt were the parameters of executive privilege, and to comment on the level of confidentiality that protects discussions between White House aides and the President and First Lady. A series of questions focused on the sexual misconduct allegations against President Clinton, involving former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Specific questions addressed the latest claims of sexual misconduct alleged by Kathleen Willey, the importance of these allegations to the American people, and what should happen to Clinton if the claims were proven to be true. Additional topics covered people who worked on Wall Street, trying juvenile criminals as adults, honesty in public office, national evening news broadcasts, and "60 Minutes" correspondent Andy Rooney. Opinions were also elicited on the installation of video surveillance cameras as a crime deterrent, whether a thief could obtain personal information on the respondent, and the accessibility of computers and electronic mail. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, ethnicity, religion, political party, political orientation, family income, voter registration and participation history, age of children in household, personal knowledge of someone with AIDS, and personal investment in the stock market.