Categories Burlington Iowa Local News Political West Burlington Gallup: Obama Had Lower Average Approval Rating Than Nixon or Bush Post author By Falcon Post date January 23, 2017 Click here: President Obama had an average approval rating of 47.9-percent during his 8-years in office, according to Gallup. That puts Obama behind Richard Nixon and George W. Bush. It puts Barrack Obama ahead of only Gerald Ford (47.2 percent), Jimmy Carter (45.5 percent) and Harry Truman (45.4 percent). ← VIDEO: Kellyanne Conway on Women’s March → Van Buren Tops W.B., 54-24