One thing he did do was start the process to get America into space. Whether his motivation was pure discovery/scientific advancement or trying to stay ahead of the Soviets doesn't matter to me. I don't think it gets done without serious Presidential support.

I've always understood why people liked him enough to elect him (Cannoli's description says it well), but never why they continued afterwards.

Of course, I find it ironic that the one real accomplishment he had is so often derided these days by people of his same political leanings.