And did so at the height of the 'Cold War' and he destroyed the biggest single threat to freedom around the world - The Soviet Union - without firing a shot.
"...and governed during a period of relative prosperity."
Are you forgetting that he took office after the Peanut President and had to deal with the high inflation, high interest rates and high unemployment. We gained prosperity after his tax cuts while fighting a Democrat Congress. We regained our prestige in the world at his hand while fighting the communists.
Don't dismiss Reagan so lightly or try to elevate Lincoln by disparaging Reagan.
Your comparing Lincolns situation with that with Reagans tenure - a calm civil society, dealing with some moderately difficult economic circumstances, is ridiculous.
Reagan is a hero of mine, but he's not in Abe's league. Washington maybe, but that's about it as far as presidents are concerned..