Contrary to conventional wisdom or Hannity wisdom (I bet those two words have never been used together), if you believe approval ratings are a measure of popularity, Reagan's time in office was slightly unliked when measured against his peers.
According to Gallup presidential approval data, Reagan ranks slightly below the 13 president average which goes back to 1937 and FDR: Reagan - 52.8 percent vs the average of 54 percent.
In fact, of the 13 presidents he comes in seventh - six ahead and six behind. Preceding and following presidents beat him. He was walloped by FDR (15 points) and Kennedy (18 points) and Bush 41 creamed him, also (9 points). The republican whipping boy, Bill Clinton, even beat him by 3 points.
Yet another Reagan myth has been debunked. His approval was slightly below average. He happened to time his second election well, when his approval rating was higher than his average and against a bad candidate (Fritz Mondale would have been a great president but was the wrong man at the wrong time). Mondale ran on raising taxes and had a women on the ticket when the American cavemen were not quite standing fully erect. Richard Nixon absolutely crushed George McGovern in 1972: 61 to 38 percent. He is not remembered for that moment in time but for his entire term. The same cannot be said for Reagan.
Although Reagan had about two years of high approval, Reagan - the "enormously popular president" - is revisionist history dreamed-up by Faux News and Rush Limbaugh. Back in the eighties, there were never lines at Blockbuster video stores to rent "Bedtime For Bonzo"' - a Reagan B-movie. By 1987, he bottomed out at 43 percent and bounced along until a spike in his final months. G.W. Bush had a peak of 90 percent so should we call him the most approved president of all time? Granted, even smart liberals were hypnotized by the message of his popularity, which lasted a short time. The actor narrowly dodged impeachment due to Iran/Contra.
It is hardly surprising that the myth of his high approval ranking is conventional wisdom. For nearly a decade, the right wing propaganda machine spewed crap without opposition. It was not until the early 2000's when Phil Donahue stood strong (he was fired shortly after) against the bullshit regarding the Iraq war. No serious voice emerged to counter the revisionist history - including the myth of Reagan's immense popularity - until the great Keith Olbermann bravely and brilliantly took them on (it is still amazing to think he had his own show for years).
Reagan was adored by the right and loathed by the left but the media, as it always does, panders to the mean-spirited conservatives, thus allowing for a myriad of myths about the Gipper. In fact, this week's Time Magazine cover story, written by Joe Scarborough, is yet another puff piece designed to keep the Reagan myth alive.
By no means was Reagan an unpopular president. He enjoyed impassioned popularity by republicans and for a short while he held many independents. But the truth: his below average approval rating indicates he was viewed as just another president when the whole population is considered. Of course he looks better when we just consider the views of the right wingers.
His overwhelming popularity and subsequent approval is myth. This belief is a testimonial to the power of suggestion and repetitive propaganda. Reagan's approval rating is a few points higher than Obama's but we are told constantly how disliked Obama is and how Reagan was a deity.
Mt. Rushmore is safe for now as Reagan will never be on it (at least not until Bill Clinton's mug is finished). You cannot make this stuff up.