---
title: "Confidence in Country’s Course at Lowest Ebb Since Bush Took Office"
description: "Summary of Findings Confidence in the state of the nation took a dramatic plunge over the course of January. A national survey of 1,000 Americans conducted Jan. 22-29 finds just 34% of the public satisfied and 58% dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country. The survey, largely completed before President Bush’s Jan. […]"
date: "2003-01-31"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2003/01/31/confidence-in-countrys-course-at-lowest-ebb-since-bush-took-office/"
categories:
  - "Politics & Policy"
datasets:
  - name: "January 2003 US Omnibus Update"
    url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/january-2003-u-s-omnibus-update/"
---

# Confidence in Country’s Course at Lowest Ebb Since Bush Took Office

## Summary of Findings

Confidence in the state of the nation took a dramatic plunge over the course of January. A national survey of 1,000 Americans conducted Jan. 22-29 finds just 34% of the public satisfied and 58% dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country. The survey, largely completed before President Bush's Jan. 28 State of the Union address, showed a sharp decline from the Pew Research Center survey in early January (44% satisfied/50% dissatisfied).

Declining confidence in late January was most apparent among Republicans — especially moderate Republicans -- and independents. Satisfaction with state of the nation among Democrats and liberals slid the least, as it was already at very low level by early January (see attached for details).

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/legacy/172-1.gif)

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/legacy/172-2.gif)