Ronald Reagan, who doubled the government?
Just checking :-)
Reagan had the right ideas (eliminate Dept. of Education, cut taxes, etc) and did some good things (he was the only President to actually CUT spending in some areas) but in practice, wasn't as effective as he, or we, would have liked.
Even the July, 1975 Reason magazine interview suggested this, that his heart, and mind were conservative, even libertarian, but in practice, he did what he could practically do.
I hate to keep repeating this but for you I will do it. :-)
Ronald Reagan had a Democrat controlled Congress who was spend crazy. As part of Reagan agreeing to a tax increase in the 1986 "Tax Simplification" bill the Democrats agreed to cut spending $2 for every $1 in tax cuts. Typically they ignored their promise and went on a spending spree. When Reagan would veto or threaten to veto they would shut the government down and blame it on him. The media gladly went along.
In addition, Reagan had to rebuild the military that Carter had decimated. Enough of this "Reagan Deficits" BS.
Remember the Gramm/Rudman bill that was to control spending? What happened to that? Hint: Check out the Democrats.
There, wasn't I sweet about it. :-)