Ever wondered who really won the popularity contest of American history? Honestly, if you look at the news today, you've probably noticed that the country feels more divided than ever. In 2026, seeing a president with a 40% approval rating is considered a "stable" day. But there was a time—several times, actually—when the entire nation seemed to lean in the same direction. We're talking about numbers that seem impossible by modern standards.
When we talk about the highest presidential approval rating ever, we aren't just looking at a popularity spike. We are looking at "rally-around-the-flag" moments. These are rare, high-stakes instances where a national crisis or a massive victory pulls everyone together, even if it's only for a few weeks.
George W. Bush and the 90% Peak
Basically, if you want the absolute record, you have to look at George W. Bush. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Gallup recorded his approval at a staggering 90% in late September 2001.
Think about that for a second.
Nine out of ten Americans, regardless of their party or who they voted for, agreed he was doing a good job. Before the attacks, he was hovering around 51%. That’s a 39-point jump almost overnight. It is the single highest rating Gallup has ever recorded for a sitting president since they started scientific polling back in the 1930s.
He didn't just hit it and quit it, either. For months, his numbers stayed in the 80s. But as you've likely guessed, what goes up must come down. By the time he left office in 2009, those record-breaking numbers had plummeted to the mid-20s, showing just how volatile public opinion can be when the initial crisis fades and the reality of long-term war and economic recession sets in.
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The Other 89%: George H.W. Bush
It kinda runs in the family. George W. Bush’s father, George H.W. Bush, held the previous record. He hit 89% in early 1991.
The reason? The Gulf War.
Americans watched the rapid success of Operation Desert Storm, and for a brief moment, the elder Bush seemed invincible. Most political analysts at the time thought he was a shoo-in for a second term. However, the economy took a turn for the worse, and less than two years after hitting 89%, he lost the 1992 election to Bill Clinton. It’s a classic example of how a massive spike in approval doesn't always guarantee a long-term legacy.
Harry Truman’s Post-War Honeymoon
If we go back further, we find Harry Truman. He started his presidency in April 1945 after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. By June 1945, with the end of the war in Europe (V-E Day), Truman hit an 87% approval rating.
People were relieved. The war was ending, and there was a massive sense of national unity. But Truman also holds a different kind of record. He eventually saw his ratings drop to 22% during the Korean War—the lowest ever recorded at that time. It's wild to think the same man could be the most loved and the most disliked leader in such a short span of time.
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Why John F. Kennedy is the True "King" of Approval
You might be thinking, "Okay, those are just spikes. Who was actually the most popular overall?"
That title belongs to John F. Kennedy. While he never hit 90%, he was remarkably consistent. His average approval rating over his entire (albeit shortened) presidency was 70.1%.
To put that in perspective:
- His peak was 83% after the Bay of Pigs (a failure, ironically, but it triggered a rally effect).
- His lowest was 56%.
- He never dipped into the "unpopular" territory that almost every other president eventually hits.
Modern presidents would give anything for a "low" of 56%. Today, a 56% rating would be seen as a landslide mandate.
The Decline of the 80% Club
Why don't we see these numbers anymore?
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Polarization. It’s a big word for a simple problem: we’ve picked sides, and we rarely move. In the 1950s and 60s, a Republican president like Dwight Eisenhower could expect a decent amount of support from Democrats. Eisenhower averaged 65% over eight years.
Nowadays, the "floor" and the "ceiling" are much closer together. If a president is a Democrat, half the country will likely disapprove on day one, and vice versa. We haven't seen a president break the 70% mark in decades. The last time anyone came close was the early 2000s.
Surprising Facts About Presidential Popularity
- Franklin D. Roosevelt peaked at 83% after Pearl Harbor, but since polling was so new then, we don't have as much data as we do for later presidents.
- Lyndon B. Johnson started at 79% after the JFK assassination but left office with half of that as the Vietnam War dragged on.
- Ronald Reagan reached 68% twice—once after surviving an assassination attempt and again during the 1986 economic boom.
- Bill Clinton actually saw his approval rise during his impeachment, hitting 73% as people felt the economy was good and the prosecution was overreaching.
What This Means for Today
Highest presidential approval rating ever isn't just a trivia fact. It tells us how the country reacts to trauma and triumph. It shows that Americans are capable of unity, but usually, it takes a massive outside force to make it happen.
If you're tracking these numbers for a project or just out of curiosity, keep an eye on the context. A 90% rating in a moment of grief (like 9/11) is very different from a 70% average over years of steady leadership (like JFK).
Next Steps for Deeper Insight
If you want to understand how these numbers influence the next election, try comparing a president's average approval rating against their final rating.
Often, a president with a high average but a low final number (like George W. Bush) leaves a complicated legacy that takes decades to sort out. Conversely, someone like Harry Truman, who left office as one of the most unpopular men in America, is now ranked by historians as one of our greatest presidents. Popularity is a snapshot; history is the long-exposure shot.
Check out the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center to see how current leaders stack up against these historical giants. You can filter by party, date, and specific events to see exactly when the "rally" effects happened.