Question

To what extent was reagan successful in reversing course from the liberalism of fdr and lbj?

Answer 1

Win for taxation policies--loss on reversing social welfare programs.

Reagan was able to reverse taxation and provide breaks for the upper classes to stimulate job growth and wages. However, programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid were so heavily used he was not able to get rid of those programs. 

Reagan wanted to return to a country with free trade, laissez-faire policies, and limited government influence in the economy. However, some of the New Deal and Great Society programs had become widely used especially by the ever growing elderly population. Reagan was not able to stop these programs without major repercussions to his elderly base.<span />