ABC News "Nightline" Starr Report Poll #4, September 1998

This special topic poll, fielded on September 13, 1998, sought respondents' views on Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's ongoing investigation of President Bill Clinton and the resulting "Starr Report," submitted to the United States Congress on September 10, 1998. Respondents were asked whether they trusted Clinton on a personal level, and their opinions were sought regarding Clinton's honesty, trustworthiness, moral and ethical standards, and leadership ability. They were also asked to comment on whether the president should remain in office, resign, be impeached, or be censured, if it were proven that he either lied under oath, encouraged former White House intern Monica Lewinsky to lie under oath, or asked aides to cover up his affair with Lewinsky. Those queried were asked for their opinions of the Starr Report and the Clinton response to that report, in which the White House argued against impeachment. Other items probed for whether respondents believed Starr or Clinton, whether they believed that the investigation had been fair or politically motivated, and whether the investigation was about sex or serious lawbreaking. In addition, respondents were asked whether they believed that Congress should hold hearings, and whether the inclusion of the sexual details of Clinton and Lewinsky's relationship were included in the report as evidence or to embarrass the president. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes sex, age, race, political party affiliation, and education level.