I go back a lot further than you do. Back in the 60's the Republicans were a responsible party. There wasn't the same kind of Tea Party social conservatism like today. Aside from Nixon's disastrous second term with Watergate, he did negotiate an end to the Vietnam War. He visited Communist China in 1971 which at the time was extraordinary. The Reagan Years were a success, especially his first term as well. Star Wars brought the breakdown of Communist Russia & Eastern Europe until the Contra Affair scandal but there may be evidence Reagan's faculties may not have been all there in 1987 with early stages of Alzheimers.