text: why is president ronald reagan called the "great communicator?"? i found out sometime ago that president reagan was called the "great communicator." why do you think he's called that? ronald reagen brought a new talent to the oval office. this was the skill of acting. his years in television and movie production prepared him to be a very capable speaker and communicator. his ability to verbally joust with mikhail gorbachev was reknowned. president reagen was the first president to be successful in communicating with the eastern bloc nations, more specifically the soviet union.