Reagans Take Star Gazer's Advice

- 1 February 1989

NZ Herald, 4 May 1988

NZPA Washington

President Reagan has made executive decisions, including the scheduling of a missile treaty signing, based on advice his wife received from an astrologer, according to sources close to the Reagans.

The sources said yesterday that they feared this long-held and closely guarded secret about the Reagans’ fascination with astrology would be detailed in a new book about to be published by the former White House chief of staff, Mr Donald Regan.

“It Is true,” said one well-placed source, who talked on condition of anonymity.

“There is a woman astrologer in California and Mrs Reagan would talk to her and then would tell the President: ‘You should do this event on this particular day’ or ‘You shouldn’t do this on that day,’ and he went along.”

Senior Republican Party officials yesterday said the astrological connection could be damaging, particularly with the religious Right, which views astrology as anti-Christian.

“Anything that makes the Reagans look like ninnies doesn’t help the party or George Bush,” said one official.

Privately, presidential assistants said they feared the disclosure would subject the Reagan to ridicule and outrage.

Sources who confirmed the First Lady’s keen interest in astrology declined to reveal the astrologer’s name.

White House sources said Mrs Reagan often insisted a presidential event take place on a certain day and at a certain time, or that it be rescheduled, for unknown reasons.

They said the astrologist theory would explain why Mrs Reagan was so rigid about scheduling.

A White House official said that during Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to Washington last December, Mrs Reagan insisted the signing of the INF medium-range nuclear missile treaty take place at 1.36 pm, Tuesday, December 8. Presidential assistants who suggested a change were told Mrs Reagaa was adamant, the official said.

Former deputy chief of staff Michael Deaver, a close friend of the Reagans, said in a 1967 book that Mr Reagan was “incurably superstitious,” carried charms in his pocket and read his horoscope daily.

Friends of Mrs Reagan have described how she performs rituals such as knocking on wood and throwing salt over her shoulder.

There was no official White House comment yesterday.