Question

By the end of his presidency, Reagan had:



dramatically shrunk the federal government’s size


abolished the Department of Education


privatized Social Security


restored American confidence


fulfilled the religious right’s agenda on issues such as school prayer

Answer 1

Reagan didn't privatize Social Security nor did he dramatically shrink the size of government (it actually expanded in some ways). Nor did he debate or decide on school prayer or the role of religion in schools.

But I'd definitely say that Reagan was instrumental in restoring American confidence. After being humiliated in Vietnam, Iran, and under threat from renewed Soviet aggression in Afghanistan, confidence in the US was at a low point. Reagan's tough talk on communism, his willingness to confront the Soviets and terrorism, and his no-nonsense attitude and personal charisma, however, surprised many people. Being an actor, he was a great public speaker and one of his nicknames was "the Great Communicator" because of how at ease and personable he appeared in public speaking events. You could say that he was the right President that the US needed at the right time during the Cold War.