Final answer:
Some U.S. presidents have ended their terms more popular than when they started, often due to economic factors or specific events during their term.
Step-by-step explanation:
The popularity of United States presidents has traditionally seen fluctuations throughout their terms. Some presidents have managed to end their term with higher approval ratings than when they started, defying the general pattern of a decline over time. A notable example of this phenomenon was President Bill Clinton who experienced an increase in popularity during his second term due to an economic boom and tax reductions for the middle class. Similarly, some events such as the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center increased George W. Bush’s approval ratings dramatically.
Typically, presidents start their term with a 'honeymoon' phase where their approval ratings are high but gradually decline over time. John F. Kennedy stands out with a high average approval rating, though his presidency was cut short, leaving less time for his ratings to fall. President Ronald Reagan also enjoyed relatively high average approval ratings throughout his terms. Moreover, approval ratings can be affected by whether a president attains a perceived 'mandate' — having won more than half of the popular vote — as was the case with Barack Obama's victory in 2008, thus starting their terms on strong footing.