One interview to a Libertarian Party magazine, during a public and political career spanning six decades, does not make someone a Libertarian. The last paragraph of Reagan's speech at the 2nd Annual CPAC Convention on March 1, 1975, "Let Them Go Their Way", sounded very similiar:
"I do not believe I have proposed anything that is contrary to what has been considered Republican principle. It is at the same time the very basis of conservatism. It is time to reassert that principle and raise it to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
This is just one example of the Reagan's use of rhetoric he employed in almost all his concept speeches from his 1970`s post Governorship. Reagan was always linking conservatism to the GOP. Why? Reagan was building a new majority coalition that he understood was needed to beat the Democrats. But Libertarianism was not any part that coalition or of Reagan's overall agenda.
Read ALL of Reagan's major speeches from back then --- City Upon A Hill 1974, Let Them Go Their Way 1975, To Restore America 1976, The New Republican Party 1977 and America's World Purpose 1978 --- and you won't find any mention of libertarianism or of the Libertarian Party either and for good reason. Reagan had no affinity for libertarianism or the LP. Reagan was a conservative, first and foremost.
And lets not forget that Libertarians from Murry Rothbard, the Godfather of modern libertarianism, to Ron Paul and Lew Rockwell, ALL had/have a strong dislike or a pure hatred for what Ronald Reagan stood for.
Hate may be too strong a word.
Ron Paul was one of the few who supported Reagan over Ford in 1976.
Revisionist history won't fly here at FR.
Ron Paul was one of the First Reagan supporters. In 1976, when most of the the Republican party was backing Ford, and calling Reagan a "kook", Ron Paul led the Texas Delegation for Reagan at the National Convention.
Reagan and Paul became friends, sharing much of their small government philosophy. In 1980, Paul again supported Reagan who reciprocated with an endorsement for Paul that was featured in Paul's campaign adds.
It is true that Paul became disillusioned by the Republican Party and the Reagan administration when they abandoned conservative economic principles, but he was not alone in his disappointment. Never, however, did Paul repudiate his support for Reagan, nor did Reagan ever repudiate his support for Paul.
Maybe you could read up a little on Reagan and his belief in the Gold standard, his belief in nonintervention or at least not going to war at every provocation, and many other positions he shared with citizens like Paul. Or maybe you are really a libertarian, because posts with wild claims that are not true about libertarianism only strengthens their cause.