Key facts
- Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, due to the Watergate scandal.
- Harry Truman's presidency included World War II aftermath and the Korean War.
- Jimmy Carter's presidency faced economic challenges and the Iran hostage crisis.
Richard Nixon had the lowest approval ratings among US presidents at the end of his term, with 24% in a Gallup poll conducted between August 2 and 5, 1974, days before his resignation amid the Watergate scandal. Harry Truman followed with 32% approval in a December 1952 poll, a period marked by the unpopular Korean War. Jimmy Carter's final approval rating was 34%. The American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara, compiled these end-of-term ratings for presidents from Harry Truman to Joe Biden. Gallup, which pioneered presidential approval ratings, ended the practice in February 2025.