On the Verge of a Rally

This chapter examines three events that led to increases in presidential public approval ratings, but not large enough increases to be considered a rally-round-the-flag result: the hijacking of TWA Flight 847, the 1986 air raid on Libya, and the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The investigation shows that the potential for a rally existed in all three events, which occurred during a prolonged and frustrating struggle with anti-American terrorism. However, none of these events generated a rally behind the president because in each of them the presidential military policy did not include decisive action against a clearly defined enemy, which the public could view as putting the nation on track to regain its collective honor and prestige.