Reputation

In Response to Gitmo being a "blot on america's reputation" on our teacher's blog, it seems like a lot of things that we do as a country blot our reputation. In fact, I don't even remember a time where our country didn't have an iffy reputation across the globe. From the Iraq war, to neglecting the Kyoto protocol, to the staggeringly low approval rating of our current president, Gitmo (etc, etc); it seems that we don't look very good in the eyes of the world.
Last summer, I stayed with european host familes for a month in 5 different countries. It seemed like every time I would introduce my self and said where I was from I either got blank stares, a sigh, or an "I'm sorry" in return. (I thought it was kind of funny.) And every time America was brought up in a conversation, my host familes always mentioned George Bush and the War on Terror; in which case I would express my disagreement in his policies. After that response, everything was cool; the american government wouldn't be brought up again for the remainder of my stay.
But seriously, has it always been like this? Was there a time when we had a good image? When?
I'm not sure, but I hope that with the new president-elect, that we will repair this shattered image.