Gallup has released its annual list of the people most admired by Americans. The list first appeared in 1948. For 2019, former President Barack Obama and current president Donald Trump tied for the number one position among men who were mentioned. However, based on the political affiliation of those queried, the results at a more granular level could not be much more different, compared to the overall tally.
Both Trump and Obama were picked by 18% of Americans as the “person they admired most.” The person could be from any part of the world and had to be living when the poll was taken between December 2 and December 15. Among Democrats, Obama’s “most admired” total was 41% to Trump’s 2%. Among Independents, Obama polled 12% to Trump’s 10%. Among Republicans, Trump’s figure was 45% to Obama’s 3%. Obama has held the top spot in 12 different years. This is Trump’s first.
After Obama and Trump, no one polled more than 2%. Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Jimmy Carter all reached that number. Four men polled at 1%: Pope Francis, Senator Bernie Sanders, Congressman Adam Schiff and the Dalia Lama.
Among the most admired women, Michelle Obama was at the top with 10%. That was a drop from 2018. Gallup researchers wrote, “The 10% naming Obama this year is down from 15% last year. The 2018 poll was conducted shortly after she released her bestselling autobiography.” Melania Trump finished second among women with a total of 5%. She was followed at 3% by Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and Greta Thunberg. Thunberg recently was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year. The women who came in at 2% in the Gallup poll were Queen Elizabeth, Nancy Pelosi and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The list of people who have been in the top 10 most admired people in any given year over the period since the Gallup poll was first taken is led, among men, by evangelist Billy Graham in 61 of those years, Ronald Reagan in 31, Jimmy Carter in 29, Pope John Paul II in 27, Bill Clinton in 26 and Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon each in 21 years. Among women, based on the same yardstick, Queen Elizabeth II has been on the top 10 most admired list in 51 years. Following her, Margaret Thatcher made the list 34 times, Oprah Winfrey 32 times and Hillary Clinton 28 times, which ties her with Jacqueline Kennedy.
Most Top 10 Finishes Since Inception, Gallup Most Admired Poll
| Most Admired Woman | Top 10 finishes |
|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth II | 51 |
| Margaret Thatcher | 34 |
| Oprah Winfrey | 32 |
| Hillary Clinton | 28 |
| Jacqueline Kennedy | 28 |
| Mamie Eisenhower | 21 |
| Barbara Bush | 20 |
| Margaret Chase Smith | 20 |
| Nancy Reagan | 19 |
| Mother Teresa | 18 |
| Clare Boothe Luce | 18 |
| Most Admired Man | Top 10 finishes |
|---|---|
| Billy Graham | 61 |
| Ronald Reagan | 31 |
| Jimmy Carter | 29 |
| Pope John Paul II | 27 |
| Bill Clinton | 26 |
| Dwight Eisenhower | 21 |
| Richard Nixon | 21 |
| George H.W. Bush | 20 |
| Harry Truman | 20 |
| Nelson Mandela | 20 |
| Bill Gates | 20 |
Gallup’s conclusion is that, in at least the past two years, the most admired people are aligned strongly with one of America’s two main political parties. While that has also been true in prior years, it does not account for the endurance of Billy Graham, Queen Elizabeth II and Oprah Winfrey, as much of their popularity has risen above political partisanship.
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