Reagan's Detached Administrative Leadership Style

Reagan's leadership style is closest to the formalistic type in that Reagan favored delegating responsibilities, protecting his personal time, and avoiding staff dissension. Reagan evinced little interest in the day-to-day tasks of the presidency and was more than willing to let his staff manage White House operations. He generally maintained a nine-to-five workday in the Oval Office, which included a few hours of personal time each day and usually at least one afternoon off per week. 

On the other hand, Reagan's own beliefs clearly guided his policy agenda, and he was renowned for his communication skills, particularly his ability to simplify complex political debates.  In foreign policy, Reagan simultaneously embraced the seemingly contradictory beliefs of anti-communism and opposition to nuclear weapons, and his commitment to both positions was critical to U.S.-Soviet negotiations. As Fred Greenstein writes, Reagan "may not have composed the detailed script of his administration . . . but his values and his premises, no matter how vaguely articulated, were at the core of its policies."