February 4, 2011 8:05AM 

# Reagan’s Libertarian Spirit 

By [David Boaz](https://www.cato.org/people/david-boaz) 

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At the Britannica Blog I take [a look back at Ronald Reagan](https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/reagans-libertarian-spirit) on the occasion of his impending 100th birthday (February 6):

> Libertarians have mixed feelings toward [Ronald Reagan](http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2011/EBchecked/topic/492882/Ronald-W-Reagan). When we’re feeling positive, we remember that he [used to say](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=2683), “[Libertarianism](http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2011/EBchecked/topic/339321/libertarianism) is the heart and soul of conservatism.”
> 
> 
> Other times, we call to mind his military interventionism, his encouragement of the then-new religious right (“[I know you can’t endorse me, but I endorse you](http://books.google.com/books?id=0BafgsBIlrwC&pg=PA680&lpg=PA680&dq=reagan+%22you+can%27t+endorse+me%22&source=bl&ots=HYWew7sJbX&sig=XDCII6TqteuyDHB1xcn_tNSU2Mk&hl=en&ei=HQlLTaqbFsL88Ab88JS3Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&).”), and his failure to really reduce the [size of government.](http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc1/Reaganomics.html) But the more experience we have with later presidents, the better Reagan looks in retrospect.…
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> 
> And in those moments we’re tempted to paraphrase the [theme song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znrjbo9QRLk) of [*All in the Family*](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1483881/All-in-the-Family) and say, “Mister, we could use a man like Ronald Reagan again.”

Bonus: The entry contains links to Encyclopedia Britannica entries on such topics as libertarianism and individualism, normally available only to subscribers. More Britannica reflections on Reagan [here](http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2011/02/ronald-reagan-great-communicator-great-president/). Some other Cato thoughts on Reagan [here](https://www.cato.org/reagan).

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[Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) 

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