Reagan during the 1982 State of the Union speech: "The budget plan I submit to you on Feb. 8 will realize major savings by dismantling the Department of Education." The Department of Education still exists today.
Also in 1982,
he promised to dismantle the Department of Energy. The Department of Energy still exists today.
In addition to NOT cutting the size of government, he expanded it. Reagan elevated the VA into a cabinet level position in 1988.
Anyone that tries to conjure the shade of ol' patron Saint Ronnie in talking about smaller government is a fool.