Hitler recognized Lincoln's 'greatness'.
I think that Reagan was referred more to Lincoln's rise to the Presidency from a poor (*some allege illegitimate since his father had been castrated) birth, than to some specious/mythological divine attribution that Lincoln cultists are want to ascribe.
* William Herndon - Linoln's longtime friend and law partner, wrote in 'The Hidden Lincoln' that Lincoln himself stated that Lincoln was illegimate. The Abbeville Courthouse in Greenville SC has a affidavit witnessed by Thomas Lincoln, making $100 per year 'to be paid to Nancy Hanks, for the support of an illegitimate son born February 12, 1809.' Guess what Lincoln's birthday is? Now guess who the PAYOR (father) of the child was - John C. Calhoun.
President Reagan also stated that Jefferson Davis was a 'hero of mine.'
Davis was not only a failure, he ran an repressive regime. Too bad historians haven't spent half the time examining the oppressions of the Davis gang as they have examining Lincoln's actions. But then again, most people aren't interested in losers and who can expect much from the leader of a regime based on slavery and dedicated to defeating the proposition that all men are created equal.