I agree about Reagan; however, I wouldn’t include Bush because he’s NO conservative. He spent like a drunk sailor (my apologies to sailers because at least they spend their own money) for five years and gave us the biggest entitlement (prescription drugs) since LBJ. He’s sided with the leftists on affirmative action, failed to secure our borders, and has been totally devoid of any principles of conservatism. Another four years of him and we’ll really be ruined! Even in Texas, as governor, he supported the liberal agenda more than he did conservative core principles. But his main impetus (like his father’s) is to “get along.”
There are very few Presidents who turn out to be solid conservatives. The two who have governed as solid conservatives during the last 100 years are Reagan and Coolidge, both former Governors.
Though I think if you look at the backgrounds of the "greatest" Presidents, you'll find they come from all kinds of backgrounds and walks of life.