FOR RELEASE ON: May 11, 1989


          The American Civil Liberties Union, a 70-year-old
organization dedicated to preserving the principles of the Bill
of Rights, is increasingly popular with the American people,
according to a recent national survey.  "Public attitudes toward
the ACLU actually have improved during the past year despite
criticisms of the organization's mission during the last
presidential campaign," said Norman Dorsen, President of the
ACLU, who is also Stokes Professor of Law at New York University. 
"Americans familiar with the ACLU agree with the work it is doing
and have a favorable opinion of the organization."

          The survey tested public opinion about a variety of
civil liberties issues, including drug testing, abortion, school
prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.  In addition, the poll
measured opinions of the organization itself, and compared public
attitudes of the ACLU with those toward other civil rights,
environmental, and public interest organizations.

          "We wanted to ascertain whether the criticism the ACLU
endured last fall had a lingering detrimental effect on our
image," said Dorsen.  "For the most part, it did not."  In the
last three months of 1988, Dorsen said, more than 52,000
Americans joined or rejoined the ACLU--the largest single boost
in the organization's history.

          The survey was completed in March and included 1003
telephone interviews with registered voters throughout the United
States.  The survey was designed and the data analyzed by Joseph
Napolitan, president of Public Affairs Analysts, Inc. of New
York.  Peter D. Hart Research Associates of Washington selected
the sample and conducted the interviews.

     Dorsen said the ACLU plans to distribute a summary of the
survey to Members of Congress, government officials, academics
and other organizations.  Copies of this summary may be obtained
by private citizens from ACLU Headquarters, 132 West 43rd Street,
New York, New York 10036.

                       * * * * * * * * * *

For further information contact:


Colleen O'Connor - ACLU          (212) 944-9800, Ext. 464
Director of Public Education


For questions on methodology contact:

Joe Napolitan                    (212) 682-2700
Public Affairs Analysts, Inc.

 
 
 
 
 
  Another file downloaded from:   
 
         !
        -$-             & the Temple of the Screaming Electron
         !    *                    Walnut Creek, CA
   +    /^\   |
   !    | |/\/^\  _^_     2400/1200/300 baud  (415) 935-5845  
  /^\  /   @ |  \/_-_\            Jeff Hunter, Sysop
  |@ \_| @     @|- - -|                                  \   
  |  | |    /^\ |  _  |                  - - - - - - - - - * 
  |___/_\___|_|_|_(_)_|       Aaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!   /   
 
       Specializing in conversations, E-Mail, obscure information,
   entertainment, the arts, politics, futurism, thoughtful discussion, 
          insane speculation, and wild rumours. An ALL-TEXT BBS.
 
                         "Raw Data for Raw Nerves."