[Paul Ross]

Indeed, I think you are right. Ronald Reagan had the great advantage of his lecture series with General Electric, and later his radio spots which allowed him to get a strong start on developing coherence in his philosophy.

[dubyajames]

One thing you might also wish to consider is that Reagan, while not necessarily an "intellectual" himself, was well-versed in the writings of conservative and classical liberal intellectual intellectuals (Kirk, Hayek, Friedman), in addition to the fact that he devoured substantive conservative journalism. But you are correct, by the time he became president he may only have served eight years in elected office but he had over 20 years of serious conservative activism under his belt.

[dubyajames]

One thing you might also wish to consider is that Reagan, while not necessarily an "intellectual" himself, was well-versed in the writings of conservative and classical liberal intellectual intellectuals (Kirk, Hayek, Friedman), in addition to the fact that he devoured substantive conservative journalism. But you are correct, by the time he became president he may only have served eight years in elected office but he had over 20 years of serious conservative activism under his belt.