PAUL RAYMOND’s research while affiliated with Hartwick College and other places

The great majority of analyses of presidential support utilize aggregate data and, consequently, are not appropriate for the analysis of individual-level changes in support in response to events within an administration. Using National Election Studies panel data, we investigate presidential support both before and after the major revelations of the Iran-Contra affair to determine the reasons behind the erosion of President Reagan's support base and the characteristics of individuals who did, and did not, adjust their views of the president subsequent to the revelations. While Reagan maintained his image of integrity, respondents did downgrade his competence; his performance was most seriously questioned by those disapproving of his Central American policy.

The great majority of analyses of presidential support utilize aggregate data and, consequently, are not appropriate for the analysis of individual-level changes in support in response to events within an administration. Using National Election Studies panel data, we investigate presidential support both before and after the major revelations of the Iran-Contra affair to determine the reasons behind the erosion of President Reagan's support base and the characteristics of individuals who did, and did not, adjust their views of the president subsequent to the revelations. While Reagan maintained his image of integrity, respondents did downgrade his competence; his performance was most seriously questioned by those disapproving of his Central American policy.