Reagan was surprisingly well-read and understood and articulated nuances of issues and problems better than most. He also had amazing foresight (in the 50's he was explaining the socialist problem better than most including their stealth use of health care). If he wasn't an "intellectual", I think he was close, at least in some areas of thought.
What do you think of the idea that Palin is the first real conservative (potential) POTUS candidate since Reagan to communicate the true values in a way that resonates with the American people?
I'm not too impressed with most so-called intellectuals. I don't like the word as a descriptive and I believe a preponderance of 'intellectuals' throughout history held, and helped effect, ideas destructive to societies.
Reagan was damn smart; very wise. More so than a great many 'intellectuals'.