Final answer:
The highest approval rating at the midpoint of a president's first term was held by President George H.W. Bush at 90 percent following the Gulf War in 1991. His son, President George W. Bush, also hit a 90 percent approval but not at the midpoint of his first term. Approval ratings for presidents can vary greatly due to external factors and tend to follow a declining trend over their term in office.
Step-by-step explanation:
The highest approval rating at the midpoint of a president's first term is subject to contextual events during their presidency. However, based on historical data of presidential approval ratings by Gallup, President George H.W. Bush's approval rating soared to 90 percent following the successful war against Iraq in 1991, making it one of the highest recorded mid-term approval ratings. It is important to note that President George W. Bush also reached a 90 percent approval rating in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, but this was not at the midpoint of his first term. Thus, while approval ratings can increase due to specific national events, they generally follow a trend of decline over the course of a presidency. For instance, President John F. Kennedy maintained a relatively high average approval rating of 70.1 percent because his time in office was cut short by assassination and President Bill Clinton's average was 55.1 percent including during times of economic satisfaction and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. It is evident that external factors, such as economic conditions and international conflicts, significantly influence presidential approval ratings.