In the aftermath of U.S. victory in the Gulf War, Bush was widely considered to be likely to win re-election, but Clinton defeated Bush in large part by focusing on the economy. Despite his defeat, Bush left office with a 56 percent job approval rating, and he remained popular with the public until his death in 2018. Historians generally view Bush as a passive, hands-off president who was 'successful in foreign affairs but a disappointment in domestic affairs.' In polls of historians and political scientists, Bush is generally ranked as an average president.