group of america's most distinguished presidential historians to dinner at the white house. he was searching for ideas, examples and lessons from his predecessors. as the conversation progressed, "time" reported it became clear to several in the room that obama was most interested in the accomplishments of ronald reagan. reagan on first glance was an unlikely role model, an arch conservative actor turned politician who was better known for his anecdotes and humor than analysis and intellect. but reagan had been a transformational president. >> go forward, america, and reach for the stars. >> someone who, as he said while campaigning in 2008, had changed the trajectory of america in a way that richard nixon did not and in a way that bill clinton did not. clearly that was obama's aspiration as well. to change the trajectory of america. did he? if i'd been taking stock in