Yep. Reagan believed the second advent was to come in his time and he was ready to blow the godless Soviets to kingdom come. Stillson from The Dead Zone was inspired off him (Played by Martin Sheen, so a younger, bizarro-world Jed Bartlet)

Only, the USSR wouldn't first strike. And Reagan wasn't willing to kickoff the ball game, even when his peacekeeper missile was ready.

Life went on and George H. W. Bush went on to condemn atheists as unamerican, himself a true believer. So the nut doesn't fall too far from the tree.