When the Stars Ruled the White House: The Reagan Administration’s Secret Reliance on Astrology
Behind the doors of America’s most powerful office, celestial charts and planetary positions guided presidential decisions for eight crucial years.
The Hollywood Connection That Started It All
Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s journey into the world of astrology began long before they ever set foot in the White House. During their Hollywood days in the 1950s, both actors moved in circles where consulting astrologers was as common as attending movie premieres. The entertainment industry had embraced these cosmic advisors, and astrology carried far more respectability than it does today.
Nancy first encountered the renowned Hollywood astrologer Carroll Righter during this period. Righter had built an impressive clientele that included major stars like Cary Grant and Marlene Dietrich. Ronald had also become acquainted with Righter several years before meeting Nancy, establishing a pattern of seeking astrological guidance that would follow them throughout their lives.
As Ronald transitioned from actor to politician, becoming California’s governor in 1966, the couple continued their consultations with Righter. Even then, strange timing decisions raised eyebrows — Ronald scheduled his gubernatorial swearing-in ceremony for the peculiar time of 12:10 am, later changing it to 12:01 am when questions arose about the unusual scheduling.
The Assassination Attempt That Changed Everything
The trajectory of the Reagan presidency took a dramatic turn on March 30, 1981, when John Hinckley Jr. fired shots at Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton. Though the president survived, the traumatic event left Nancy consumed with anxiety and fear for her husband’s safety. The near-death experience transformed her from a supportive spouse into an actively protective force within the administration.
Following the shooting, Nancy’s reliance on astrological guidance intensified dramatically. She had already been introduced to San Francisco astrologer Joan Quigley through their mutual acquaintance, television host Merv Griffin, who knew of the Reagans’ interest in cosmic matters. What had been casual consultations now became an essential part of Nancy’s daily routine as she desperately sought ways to protect her husband from future harm.
Historians note that Nancy’s turn to astrology likely provided her with a sense of control during an otherwise helpless situation. The assassination attempt had shattered her sense of security, and the stars offered a way to navigate the dangerous waters of presidential life.
The Secret Monthly Retainer
Determined to keep her husband safe through astrological guidance, Nancy made a decision that would remain hidden for years — she placed Joan Quigley on a monthly retainer of $3,000, paid from her private funds through a third party to maintain secrecy. The arrangement allowed Nancy to consult with Quigley whenever needed, sometimes multiple times per day.
All consultations took place over the telephone, never in person. Despite her extensive influence over the Reagan administration’s scheduling, Quigley claimed she had only met President Reagan once, briefly in a receiving line during a 1985 state dinner. This distance maintained the secrecy Nancy desperately wanted to preserve, as she felt embarrassed about relying on an astrologer while serving as First Lady.
The clandestine nature of their relationship extended to Nancy’s earlier visits to Carroll Righter, where she would disguise herself with sunglasses and a headscarf, using her maiden name to avoid recognition. As astrology’s public reputation declined, the need for secrecy only intensified.
The Color-Coded Calendar System
To manage the complex intersection of presidential duties and astrological predictions, Nancy developed an elaborate color-coded calendar system. Using the familiar traffic light colors, she marked each day according to Quigley’s astrological forecasts — green indicated favorable conditions for events, yellow suggested caution, and red warned against any activities.
Nancy included detailed notes for her husband based on these predictions. On days marked red, she sometimes instructed the president not to leave the White House at all. She regularly adjusted the timing of events, speeches, and appearances to align with what Quigley deemed astrologically favorable periods.
This system extended beyond simple scheduling convenience. According to Quigley’s later claims, Nancy sought astrological guidance for virtually every aspect of the president’s schedule, from the timing of Air Force One takeoffs and landings to the scheduling of major speeches and press conferences.
Major Decisions Under Stellar Influence
The scope of astrological influence on the Reagan administration reached far beyond daily scheduling. Quigley claimed responsibility for timing many of Ronald’s most important speeches, including State of the Union addresses and crucial press conferences. She also allegedly advised on the optimal timing for presidential debates, helping determine when Reagan should face opponents like Walter Mondale and Jimmy Carter.
Even international relations reportedly fell under astrological guidance. The Philadelphia Inquirer once reported that Reagan had signed a nuclear missile treaty with the Soviet Union at a time specifically chosen by an astrologer. The timing of Reagan’s presidential campaign announcement and his second inauguration — scheduled for 50 seconds past 11:56 am — were also allegedly determined through astrological consultation.
Perhaps most remarkably, Quigley may have played a role in one of the most significant geopolitical developments of the era. When Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power in the Soviet Union, Quigley reportedly created an astrological chart for the Soviet leader and compared it to Reagan’s chart. Finding compatibility between the two leaders’ cosmic profiles, she advised Nancy that Reagan should soften his hardline stance toward the Soviets and pursue negotiations.
The Cold War and Cosmic Compatibility
Reagan had entered the presidency with strong anti-communist views, viewing the Soviet Union as an evil empire that required military intimidation rather than diplomatic engagement. This stance began to shift in 1985 when Gorbachev assumed leadership of the Soviet Union, but according to Quigley’s sister, the astrologer played a crucial role in this transformation.
After learning Gorbachev’s birth date, Quigley created detailed astrological charts for both leaders. Her analysis convinced her that Reagan and Gorbachev possessed cosmic compatibility that would allow them to work together effectively. She shared this assessment with Nancy, who reportedly used the information to encourage her husband to abandon his black-and-white view of Soviet relations.
Quigley’s influence may have extended to the critical Reykjavík Summit, where she allegedly advised Reagan to remain engaged with the negotiation process despite his frustration. The summit proved successful and led to treaties that eventually contributed to the Cold War’s end — potentially making an astrologer an unexpected participant in one of history’s most important diplomatic achievements.
The 1988 Revelation
The Reagan administration’s astrological connections remained successfully hidden until 1988, when former White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan published his tell-all memoir, “For the Record.” Though Regan had grown frustrated with Nancy’s influence over the president’s schedule, his book revealed the extent to which the First Lady consulted astrologers for guidance.
While Regan’s memoir didn’t initially name Joan Quigley, his description of a female astrologer in San Francisco made her identity obvious to those familiar with the arrangement. The revelation prompted Quigley to come forward and confirm her role, though she declared she would never again accept political clients.
The disclosure created a media sensation, with major publications like Time and People featuring cover stories about the Reagan administration’s astrological connections. Television programs, including Ted Koppel’s “Nightline,” dedicated extensive coverage to the revelations.
Public Backlash and Political Fallout
The revelation that America’s leader had potentially made decisions based on astrological guidance sparked widespread criticism and concern. Reagan supporters felt betrayed by the suggestion that superstition had influenced executive decisions, while political opponents seized on the controversy as evidence of administrative incompetence.
Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis expressed hope that “the nation’s destiny beginning in January 1989 will be based on something other than horoscopes.” The Federation of American Scientists had previously voiced concerns about world leaders making decisions based on what they considered a fictitious practice.
Some administration officials refused to believe the claims entirely. Presidential aide Lyn Nofziger jokingly noted that if Reagan had been consulting astrologers, “he’s been getting some bum advice. Who told him to make the arms-for-hostages deal with the Iranians?”
The Reagan Response
Faced with the damaging revelations, both Ronald and Nancy Reagan moved quickly to minimize the controversy. Ronald firmly stated that “no policy or decision in my mind has ever been influenced by astrology,” while characterizing Nancy’s interest as a natural response to the trauma of his assassination attempt.
Nancy addressed the allegations in her 1989 book “My Turn,” writing that “while astrology was a factor in determining Ronnie’s schedule, it was never the only one, and no political decision was ever based on it.” She maintained that astrological consultations only influenced timing, not substance.
However, Ronald refused to completely dismiss astrology’s validity. When pressed about his beliefs, he admitted, “I’ve not tied my life by it, but I won’t answer the question the other way because I don’t know enough about it to say, is there something to it or not.”
Other Superstitious Beliefs
Beyond astrology, Ronald Reagan reportedly harbored other superstitious beliefs that influenced his behavior. He claimed 33 as his lucky number and sometimes joked that Abraham Lincoln’s spirit still resided in the White House. Most telling was his extreme secrecy regarding his exact birth time — information crucial for creating precise astrological charts.
Reagan’s reluctance to share his birth time may have stemmed from fear that the information could fall into the wrong hands, potentially allowing people with malicious intentions to manipulate his astrological chart for their own purposes. This level of concern suggests a deeper belief in astrology’s power than he publicly acknowledged.
A Pattern Among First Ladies
Nancy Reagan was far from the only First Lady to embrace unconventional beliefs and practices. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis reportedly studied the I Ching, a Chinese divination system, and may have practiced Celtic divination using rune stones. Eleanor Roosevelt allegedly consulted palm readers, while Mamie Eisenhower may have had her fortune read through tea leaves during a visit to Manila.
Earlier First Ladies Ida McKinley and Florence Harding also reportedly believed in astrology. Harding was said to own tarot cards, hire astrologers who used crystal balls, and include occult references in her personal diary. This pattern suggests that seeking cosmic guidance may be more common among presidential spouses than publicly acknowledged.
Joan Quigley’s Assessment
According to Joan Quigley, Ronald Reagan possessed “the most brilliant horoscope I’d ever seen in this country in this century.” She noted that his sun placement in the mid-heaven corresponded to the part of the United States horoscope that rules the presidency, suggesting cosmic destiny for his role.
Quigley had provided guidance during Reagan’s unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination in the 1960s, correctly predicting he wouldn’t win at that time. When Nancy contacted her again in 1980, Quigley examined opponent Jimmy Carter’s chart and predicted Reagan’s victory, leading to her formal involvement in his campaign.
The astrologer’s confidence in Reagan’s cosmic profile proved accurate, though it also brought the first public criticism of a world leader making decisions based on astrological guidance. The controversy would follow the Reagan administration throughout its tenure, culminating in the damaging revelations of 1988 that forever linked the presidency with the influence of the stars.
Source: Ranker
Cover Photo: President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan Pose on The White House Grounds, 11/16/1988 (Public domain)
NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is not an AI voice. (AI Policy)
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