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.
Sort of like George Bush, huh?