CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll, December 1997

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 economy and foreign policy, as well as their opinions of Vice President Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and Attorney General Janet Reno. Affirmative action programs were addressed, with questions covering corporate and collegiate preferences based on race and gender, the future of such programs, and laws that exist to prevent such discrimination. Those queried were asked for their views on the investigations into 1996 Democratic campaign fundraising activities, global warming, El Nino, Californians' lifestyles compared to theirs, and exposure to the sun. Parents of teenagers were questioned about the extent to which their teenagers lie and cheat, in whom they confide, and their safety at school. Background information on respondents includes age of children in household, employment status, kind of work, cigarette and alcohol consumption, computer use, 1996 voting behavior, political party, political orientation, religion, education, age, race, and family income.