U.S. Congress hits a new low in ratings

The U.S. Congress will reconvene on Tuesday with its lowest approval rating (only 13 percent) since 1974. According to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 84 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job, and approximately two-thirds of respondents “strongly” disapprove.

Obama continues to do well with racial minorities, and his overall 48% approval rating is not too bad, when put into historical context:

Presidential Approval, Jan. of Re-election Year

                           Approve   Disapprove  Year

Obama                 48%        48               2012

Bush-43               58            40               2004

Clinton                 53            43               1996

Bush-41               45            52               1992

Reagan                57            39               1984 

Carter*                56            33               1980

Ford                    46             42               1976

Nixon                  49             39               1972

Johnson               48             39               1968

Eisenhower         76             12                1956

Truman               53             32                1948

Roosevelt            64             37                1940

ABC News

*1980 and previous, Gallup