Well, it's a dangerous path to take, but I'd argue that in the last 50 years Jimmy Carter did more than anyone else, except Ronaldus Maximus, to further conservatism. Four years of Jimmuh moved the entire country towards the GOP.
Echoed to some extent by the influence of Clinton on the last election. And there was an interesting parallel in the activism over the Florida slight-of-hand attempted by the Dems. We almost had right-wingers in their 70s wielding pitchforks in the streets (hi Dad!).
Sometimes the quickest way to get a pendulum back to the right is for someone to give it a hard shove to the left.
I agree - even more so than 8 years of disgusting Klintoon behavior. We may have been outraged and riled up in the 90's but most people didn't even pay attention. In fact, most people don't pay attention, ever, unless you hit them in the wallet (like Jimmuh did).