Well let's look at recent history:
http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/data.exe/feddal/ru
Ok, going start with Carter:
2 months before elected for term
Sept 1976 unemployment: 7.6
Nov: 7.8
Enters office Jan 1977: 7.5
One year in Jan 1978: 6.4
Two years in Jan 1979: 5.9
Reagan:
2 months before elected for term
Sept 1980 : 7.5
Nov: 7.5
Enters office Jan 1981: 7.5
One year Jan 1982: 8.6
Two years Jan 1983: 10.4
Reagan's second term:
2 months before elected for term
Sept 1984: 7.3
Nov: 7.2
Jan 1985: 7.3
One year Jan 1986: 6.7
Two years Jan 1987: 6.6
Bush senior:
2 months before elected for term
Sept 1988: 5.4
Nov: 5.3
Enters office Jan 1989: 5.4
One year Jan 1990: 5.4
Two years Jan 1991: 6.4
Clinton:
2 months before elected to term
Sept 1992: 7.6
Nov: 7.4
Enters office Jan 1993: 7.3
One year Jan 1994: 6.6
Two years Jan 1995: 5.6
Clinton's second term
2 months before elected for term
Sept 1996: 5.2
Nov: 5.4
Jan 1997: 5.3
One year Jan 1998: 4.6
Two years Jan 1999: 4.3
Bush Jr:
2 months before elected to term
Sept 2000: 4.0
Nov: 3.9
Enters office Jan 2001: 4.2
One year Jan 2002: 5.6
Two years Jan 2003: 5.8
Bush or Kerry term
2 months before elected for term
Sept: 5.4