Final answer:
President Clinton's approval rating was affected by the Monica Lewinsky scandal; however, his approval actually increased during the ordeal, and he finished his term with a high approval rating.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky did affect his approval rating, but contrary to what might be expected under such scandalous circumstances, his approval rating actually increased. The Monica Lewinsky scandal, which led to Clinton's impeachment, became a matter of great public interest. However, many Americans discredited the evidence brought forward by independent counsel Ken Starr and were more disillusioned with Starr, Lewinsky, and others rather than with Clinton himself. Despite Clinton lying under oath about the affair, his approval rating remained high. In the end, Clinton left office with a 66 percent approval rating, the highest of any U.S. president at that time. This high approval rating was influenced by factors including the public's fatigue with the investigation and their perception of it as a minor violation rather than a severe breach of trust.