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Ronald Reagan in the National Statuary Hall Collection
As British historian M. J. Heale summarized, historians have reached a broad consensus that Reagan rehabilitated conservatism, turned the nation to the right, practiced a considerably pragmatic conservatism that balanced ideology and the constraints of politics, revived faith in the presidency and American exceptionalism, and contributed to victory in the Cold War,[373][374] which ended with the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991.[375] Many conservative and liberal scholars agree that Reagan has been the most influential president since Roosevelt, leaving his imprint on American politics, diplomacy, culture, and economics through his effective communication of his conservative agenda and pragmatic compromising.[376] During the initial years of Reagan's post-presidency, historical rankings placed his presidency in the twenties.[377] Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, his presidency often scored in the top ten.[378][379]
Many proponents, including his Cold War contemporaries,[380][381] believe that his defense policies, economic policies, military policies, and hard-line rhetoric against the Soviet Union and communism, together with his summits with Gorbachev, played a significant part in ending the Cold War.