Reagan had a way about him that was pleasing, and this is very effective in an orator. If you like the speaker, you tend to support what he advocates.

I saw him speak several times.  He could usually hit the home run.  He was trained as an actor, and being an Irishman, he had the gift of the blarney.

Neither worthy of the praise heaped on him by his fans, nor deserving of the calumnies of his foes, Reagan was at his best in tightly controlled environments where his acting ability could carry him. 

Excellent off a teleprompter, and probably the best of recent presidents at speaking to the camera, he was less effective at news conferences and off the cuff.

In my opinion there is none better. His grandfatherly appeal, easy going style, and the fact that he was once an actor made him quite appealing. He was also good at structuring a speech and knowing what to say and what might grab people's attention. His famous quote, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" almost didn't happen. Aides told the speech writer to take it out. When Reagan got wind of it, he put it back in himself on the way to the wall that day.

Shockingly overrated for some bizarre reason. . .to his credit, he handled crowds rather well- but pretending not to hear hard questions and spouting buzzwords and platitudes is hardly quality public speaking. . .

Like no other; Brilliant, quit witted, humorous and poignant with everything he ever said.

Ronald Reagan wasn't known as 'The Great Communicator' for no reason. Like him or not, he was able to inspire Americans with his vision for the future. And Reagan's skills as an orator were evident as his speeches are still fondly remembered by many Americans who long for the bygone era of a shining city on a hill.

Sure, he was an amazing speaker who was very good with the television, and could boil things down to simple "vision pieces." Because he didn't really transfix crowds, though, in the way that JFK did, I don't think I can properly call Reagan an "orator." Just a very good talking head who mastered the television medium.

Perhaps the best of the 20th century.