It was really enabled during the Nixon administration -- before Reagan. It was during the elections of Nixon that the Nixon cabal colluded with Jerry Falwell and the "moral majority." The comingling of religion and politics grew hugely from that development.

I think Reagan helped to empower them and helped to blur the line that separates church and state.

Reagan will not be looked on kindly by historians. His policies really fucked this country up.

the gop certainly used them to keep hold of power. Their moral crusade of the drug war has been jailing non whites [32 million] ever since. Bush senior did more damage though when he caused 911 and brought big bro in our living rooms