Certainly influential, but some of his fans need to get a grip on reality. To rank him in the same group with Christ, Mohammed, Buddha, and some of the other giants on this list is arrant nonsense. Frankly, I think I'm being generous with 3 stars. Relative to others here he's probably a 2.5 at best.

I think it is true

I was never a fan - of either of his careers and really don't see his impact - beyond the ascent of a rather defensive type of conservatism. He was a gifted speaker though I will give him that. And perhaps the trail blazing influence for mid-life entertainment to politics career changes.

Almost single-handedly responsible for the rapid decline of the empire.

UPDATE:

I should make clear my belief that Reagan was merely a symptom of the disease that's destroying the American dream. Unbridled greed, irrational fear, and multinational corporatism are the root causes.

merely an actor in the 1950

Reagan was certainly an influential person, and for those Reagan fans out there, my three star rating isn't intended to be an insult. I just think that in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't make sense to for Reagan to be ranked in the range of such people as Johann Gutenberg, Albert Einstein, or Isaac Newton, all of which are ranked close to Reagan at the time that I am writing this review. Maybe a few more years will prove him to have been more or less influential than I currently think, but I'll give him a solid three for now.

He did bring the country into an era of conservatism which we may just be leaving, though his influence is felt even in some of Obama's appointments.

Joke, right? Not only was he a lousy president (Iran-Contra, S&L scandal, poor environmental record and opposition to the E.R.A.), but his impact was minimal and in the face of the history of the world it is unlikely that he will even be remembered. Few U.S presidents will.

The Berlin Wall...That was just a minor thing...Kept us out of World War III...That was minor too...No influence at all.

The fourteenth most influential person in world history -- surely this is a joke!  I don't think he should be rated in the top fourteenth U. S. presidents.  Of all the presidents, I think only Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln could be considered to be in the top 100th influential people in world history.  Furthermore, I think the Iran-Contra fiasco was one of the worst scandals in presidential history.

"World History"? I can't stop laughing. . .although 2 out of 3 dictators did prefer Ronnie's company. . .

He hasn't had any time to affect history.  How could this man possibly be ranked higher than Caesar, Socrates, Newton, or Da Vinci?

i think it is redicilous that this man gets almost as much ratings as Moses ( the great messenger of God).

Kept saying something about tearing down a wall...

just a doddering old fart

Woest prez ever.Supported many rebel factions including osama bin laden and the mujah hadin.He sold weapons to the agressive Iran government and gave the money to nicarauguan militias who murdered thousands of civilians.He also gave weapons to Saddam hussein and Iraq including nerve gasses which he has used to kill thousands of kurds.He proposed the ill fated star wars despite the warnings from his nonstupid advisors.He spent so much on defense he screwed over bush sr and clinton economically.

You know, I somewhat understood why some people didn't tolerate Ronald Regan (much like they don't George W. Bush) mainly because I found Reagan to have the type of personality that you either loved or hated. But his adminstration has been over for quite some time now and most intelligent Americans who do more research from accredited library's as opposed to the mysterious and oh-so-prestigious internet, realize that much of Reagans policy's helped this country move down the right path. Reagan's no-nonsense attitude got his job done and helped him win the Cold War. Was he perfect, of course not, but credit must be given where credit is do. Oh, and in regards to Nancy Reagan's spending, at least she was using the money to contribute things TO the White House; unlike Hillary Clinton who seemed to spend the last months of her husbands presidency emptying the White House of it's priceless valuables for her own home. But alas, removing the prestige of the White House was what the Clintons did best...

here you go, Lance, some Reagan facts: He championed family values, yet he was the only divorced president and for years was estranged from his own children. He inveighed against the breakdown of traditional values, yet his family defined its very antithesis. He presented the image of a strong leader. Yet he was the most managed president in history (before George W. Bush). He proclaimed that America was standing tall in the world, yet after the October 1983 terrorist car-bombing in Beirut, Lebanon killed 241 Marines, yet cut and run, sending the message that terrorists could attack this country with impunity. His supporters say he won the Cold War, but Beruit was a clear defeat in what we now call the war on terrorism. He was a man of profound grace, gentility and courtesy, yet his presidency ushered in an era of contumely, contentiousness and recrimination unseen since the days before the Civil War. He was the darling of the religious right, yet he never went to church, except for funerals, and regularly consulted an astrologer. He was dedicated to lowering taxed, yet he presided over one of the largest tax increases in recent times. He was a fiscal conservative who tripled the national debt. He railed against big government, yet expanded its size and increased its invasive role in our lives. He was known as the Great Communicator, yet he regularly distorted of made-up facts and events, ignored whatever didnt fit his view of things and time and again confused scenes from movies with actual, real-life events. He proclaimed it was morning again in America, yet his policies left the nation even more polarized between rich and poor, black and white, right and left than when he took office. He was extraordinarily patriotic and clearly loved his country, yet through commission or omission subverted the Constitution, ran one of the most corrupt administrations (in terms of numbers indicted officials) in history and got sweetheart deals from his wealthy supporters. He led the conservative reaction against decadence and crassness in popular culture, yet his inaugurations were the glitziest and most expensive in history and his economic expansion brought McDonaldization to the world. He advocated anti-abortion and school prayer amendments, yet he refused to campaign for them and kept their advocates at arms length. He championed hard work and the Protestant Ethic, yet he had the lightest schedule of any recent president, took afternoon naps, and spent one full year (in total) at his ranch in California, not counting weekends at Camp David. He championed the little guy, yet cut welfare rolls while his wife spent $209,508 on new White House china, to name just one extravagance. And, speaking of Nancy, she represented the Just Say No campaign while addicted to prescription drugs. Yet, for all this, Ronald Reagan ranks with these greats: TR, Wilson, FDR and Truman. YEAH AMERICA!UPDATE: I did do a little cut and paste, just to show yu that facts are facts on both sides. it wasnt MoveOn, however. i dont like those people. I dont need your books however, Lance, as much as you do. seems to be the only source for your knowledge. god knows you don't get it living any kind of life. but hey thanks for the offer, skippy.

Skizero, did you cut and paste that from MoveOn.org's website? I think I've seen that article somewhere before. Yes, he wasn't a perfect individual as I know you are... but saying someone can't champion something after falling from grace is foolish. I mean, being a former drunk someone might realize the need to warn others on the dangers of alcohol use. Having family difficulties might clue someone in to the need for strong families. Beruit was a failure yes. But he took the advice of his cabinet against his own inclinations to stay and respond militarily according to reports. He was swayed by the argument that Communism was the greater threat at the time. But didn't you argue that terrorism was something the US made up anyhow- so where's the defeat? There's no real terrorist threat right? As I've previously provided proof that dismisses the whole class and ethnic warfare drivel you have attempted to repeat I will recuse myself from reiterating the simple facts that prove your claims untrue. On one hand you claim the 80's further impoverished the poor -while 25 million were leaving the ranks of poverty of course. Then you claim the economic expansion was brough on- oh let me yawn- insert cliche- McDonaldization , yet 5 million new companies were opened during the 80's. Let me think of a couple..hhmm Microsoft? Dell? amongst numerous other tech companies, financial service companies and heavy industry companies. The GNP grew at an annual rate of over 4.4% during his presidency. The tax revenues brought into the treasury almost doubled in the 8 years of his tenure. Interest rates fell from 18% when he took office to below 5%. Inflation was over 10%- fell to below 4%. And he did all this while a sleep. Not bad! No wonder people think he's great. You're arugments are so pathetic that you've resorted to checkout style tabloids stories about the First Lady to repudiate Reagan the presidency. Poor poor skizzy... if you'd like to borrow some books from my library I'll be more than willing to help you out.

This man was a putz,but he was influential,all right-he taught Americans how to lie to themselves and see things as Rosy while we head for hell in a handbasket.

I love Ronald Reagan as he, in my opinion, was the greatest President in my lifetime thus far. He definitely did more to help end the Cold War than any other person. But he was not perfect. He was a man of many flaws like any other. But in terms of World History, he is significant only for the fact he helped make America into the greatest nation during his era. President Reagan however, will not compare to a Gaius Julius Caesar, a William Shakespeare, or even a Hammurabi. But Ronald Reagan can rest on his accomplishments, as far as American History is concerned. There is also no question about his place in recent World History, as to deny it would be nothing more than to ignore the reality of it.

I am not going to Rate Ronald Reagan at this time. He seemed like a real good man. RIP Mr. president.