The National Review has always sucked - Not all conservatives supported Reagan, notably, National Review and Bill Buckley chose to support President Carter

The fight over the Panama Canal Treaties was a galvanizing moment for Ronald Reagan and almost all of the conservative movement. Beginning in 1976 and continuing through 1978, the fight invigorated conservatism in America and helped propelled Reagan to nearly winning the 1976 GOP nomination and then winning it outright in 1980. 

Not all conservatives supported Reagan, notably, National Review and Bill Buckley chose to support President Carter, as did some others. Still, most on the right opposed the “giveaway” of the Canal.