Carter Gets Higher Iran Marks Than Reagan

A new poll released today shows that Americans think former President Jimmy Carter did a better job than President Reagan in dealing with Iran.

Carter’s failure to win the freedom of 52 Americans held hostage by Iran for 444 days during his last year in office was a major factor in his landslide 1980 electoral loss to Reagan, who said Carter’s handling of the affair was a disgrace.

The hostages were eventually released on Jan. 20, 1981, the day Reagan replaced Carter as President.

Carter, who ordered an unsuccessful rescue attempt by the U.S. military in April, 1980, has been generally regarded by most Americans as a failure in the White House, while the 75-year-old Reagan has been one of the most popular Presidents.

But an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll says 30% of Americans now say Carter did a “good” or “excellent” job in dealing with Tehran. Only 17% rate Reagan that highly.

Reagan’s overall approval rating has fallen to 50% from 61% since October as a result of the Iran arms scandal and the secret diversion of funds to anti-government rebels in Nicaragua, the poll says.

About two-thirds of those surveyed say Reagan is not in full control of his Administration and a similar number now disapprove of his handling of foreign policy generally.

Vice President George Bush, who hopes to succeed Reagan in the White House, has also been damaged by the scandal.

The poll says 63% of Americans either rate the vice president unfavorably or aren’t sure how they feel about him--up from 49% in October.