Well, wasn’t Reagan not very well liked by the GOPe back in the day?
You are quite correct. I've written multiple times around here that starting in 1976 when he challenged Gerry Ford for the nomination, the GOPe hated Reagan and hated his supporters, and it hasn't abated one iota since whether it's been the Tea Party or now Trump and MAGA.
The GOPe believe that Reagan literally and figuratively ruined their party. They had safe seats and all the pork and hookers they could want in exchange for being the loyal and acquiescent opposition, and Ronaldus Magnus wrecked all that by inspiring Republicans to win instead of just going along to get along. It's about the only thing that they GOPe have been right about.
Trump and Reagan both put citizens, the base and the country first.
The last thing the establishment of either party wants is representative republic where the politicians are serving the people.
Yes, they favored the likes of the genteel George Bush, whom they stuck him with as the designated RINO VP. They considered Reagan a course upstart without without the experience or temperament to be President. All the same things with Trump. But back then they were far less willing to openly thwart him and support a stealth coup by joining with the dems behind the scenes to undermine him, block him, and investigate him relentlessly like they did with Trump.