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The 60’s and the 90’s: American’s Political, Moral, and Religious, Values Then and Now

Robert J. Blendon,
RJB
Robert J. Blendon
John M. Benson,
JMB
John M. Benson
Mollyann Brodie,
MB
Mollyann Brodie
Drew E. Altman,
DEA
Drew E. Altman
Richard Morin,
RM
Richard Morin
Claudia Deane, and
CD
Claudia Deane
Nina Kjellson
NK
Nina Kjellson

March 1, 1999

As the American people sort out the second impeachment proceeding of the century, it is a good time to examine how the nation’s political and moral values have changed in the past 30 years and how Democrats and Republicans differ today on some important values. Last summer and fall, we conducted three polls to look at these two issues, as well as Americans’ views on religion in the public domain. We found that Americans today are generally more conservative in their views on the role of government and more concerned about the country’s moral decline than they were 30 years ago.