GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
The Senate trial is over and President William Jefferson Clinton has been acquitted. Gallup Poll trends during the impeachment process consistently showed about a third of Americans supporting Mr. Clinton's impeachment and removal, with two-thirds opposed. That basic proportionate split in the American population stayed constant up through Gallup's final pre-vote poll conducted Tuesday night, thus suggesting that the final Senate vote Friday was in accord with the will of the American people.
The trial itself still did not necessarily sit well with the American people, however. As the Senate trial progressed, the public's opinion of the trial process became more negative as early bi-partisanship turned into disputes over witness testimony and a potential censure resolution. In mid-January, the Senate's trial approval rating stood at 45%, with a disapproval rate of 45%. However, in the CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted February 9, the disapproval rate rose to 62%, with only 32% approving of the Senate's handling of the trial.
Despite that, Americans still believe President Clinton received a fair trial: 62% of Americans believe his trial was conducted fairly. That number includes the majority of Republicans, who may also believe the trial was too fair to the President since the House managers were blocked from calling many potential witnesses to testify against the President. Thirty-two percent of Americans believe the trial was not conducted fairly.
Since the Senate failed to convict and will apparently not agree on a formal censure motion, the question remains, was the House impeachment and Senate trial enough of a punishment for Mr. Clinton? His desire for a place in history is well known, but the stigma of impeachment will now be a key part of that legacy. Forty-nine percent of Americans believe that the process today is sufficient punishment for the President, but 45% believe he "got away" with the crimes of perjury and obstruction of justice.