the National Opinion Research Center and Harris showed a drop in optimistic responses, from 48 percent in 1966 to 31 percent in November 1984-below the previous nadir of 33 per- cent (the average of three polls) recorded in 1973-74, during the Water- gate hearings.
Lipset believes that Americans' lack of faith in their institutions and leaders is not superficial. It cannot be explained simply in terms of past presidential difficulties, past economic woes, or the media's past obses- sion with "bad"...