Never in the history of the U.S. Presidency has an astrologer played such a significant role in a nation's affairs of State. Quigley wielded considerable influence in the creation of major U.S. policy, including the Bitburg crisis, the INF Treaty, and the President's historical shift from viewing Russia as the Evil Empire to accepting Gorbachev as a peace-seeking leader. 16 pages of photographs.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
As Nancy Reagan's astrologer for seven years, San Franciscan Quigley influenced the timing of the President's speeches, public appearances, surgery and trips. In this self-congratulatory tell-all, she also claims that she softened Ronald Reagan's stance toward Gorbachev, paved the way for a friendly Geneva Summit, helped Reagan win two presidental elections and protected him from potential assassins. She takes credit for helping to shape his "visionary" strategy of particle-beam weapons in space (Star Wars), for giving First Lady Nancy an image-overhaul and for defusing the controversy over the president's visit to Bitburg cemetery where Nazis are buried. Separate chapters cover the birth charts of Reagan and Gorbachev and the "breathless possibilities" in the chemistry between them. Although this tiresome memoir would have worked better as a magazine article, it offers an intimate, different, unintentionally devastating slant on the Reagan White House.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book should be a lot better known. Not only does it provide a fascinating insight into the Reagan presidency, but it also does a good job of explaining exactly what a professional astrologer does and how he works. As Quigley explains it, astrology is not fortune telling, but a useful tool for making the most of opportunities and minimizing setbacks. Could it have been astrology that was Reagan's "teflon"? As the Reagans' personal astrologer, Quigley chose the timing of Air Force One's departures, congressional arm-twisting meetings, press conferences, the timing and locations of summit conferences; gave advice on how to handle Mikhail Gorbachev and what demands to make in negotiations. She was also responsible for the remaking of Nancy Reagan's public image. Those who know something about astrology will nod in recognition at a lot of Quigley's insights; those who scoff at astrology will be drop-jawed. Ms. Quigley writes well, although I detect the hand of an editor in several places, especially on those occasions when Quigley attributes remarks to Mrs. Reagan disparaging the elder Bush. These sentences are inconsistent with the tone of the rest of the book and appear to have been inserted to give the book some "dirt." I found this a fascinating book and would recommend it to anyone interested in astrology or in the Reagan presidency. There's a lot to ponder here.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As an astrologer naturally I was interested to read what another astrologer had to say about President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy. Famous people are always instructive for astrologers because not only their birth dates but facts of their lives are widely available.
This book is very interesting from an historical perspective--giving inside details of the major events of RR's time in the White House. I have several things against what Ms. Quigley wrote. I will give them in order from least important to most important.
Firstly, I wish that there had been more astrological detail for me to evaluate. I realize that Ms. Quigley was writing for the general public and didn't want to get too technical.
More importantly, I found her lack of humility disturbing and off-putting. It was preposterous and to me in the same profession, embarrassing, that she bragged so insistently and repeatedly that she had "protected the president" from assassination and that she was the creator of the "Teflon" presidency. No astrologer or any other human being can prove that they were the protection or creation of something that did not happen. There is no way of proving that the electrical grid in the whole world didn't stop because of the preventive efforts for Y2K. Prevention cannot be proved--period. Is she God? Couldn't other factors have affected RR's presidency? Such as his charm and likeableness, his speech writers, his public relations people, his quick acting and self sacrificing body guards? It is a little presumptuous to think she was the sole protector and creator of it all! No astrologer (or anyone) unless they are angels can claim to categorically know that they have prevented a tragedy in someone's life. The fact is that with everything in this very imperfect world, astrology is not 100% accurate and anyone that says so is deluding themselves and others.
Still, I can understand this foible. She wants to promote the efficacy of astrology and to silence the critics. I do, too. This much is true: to be forewarned in order to prepare oneself is to be forearmed. If you knew that you were going to get cancer, wouldn't you change your diet, stop smoking, etc., in order to increase your chances of prevention?
No, it is not Ms. Quigley's arrogance that bothers me; but the truly treacherous thing she did in this book--the cruel things she wrote about Nancy Reagan. An astrologer or anyone in the helping profession should be held to the highest ethical standards. Confidentiality, kindness and loyalty should be our basic standards of behavior. People come to us who are vulnerable, and anxious. Nancy Reagan had good reason to be worried. After only 69 days in office, her husband narrowly missed being assassinated. He was the first president elected in a year ending in zero that wasn't killed since Harrison in 1840. Ms. Quigley wrote a lot of nice things about Nancy Reagan in her book. Nevertheless, one or two mean words can destroy thousands of good ones. It's bad enough to tell privately one's friends and family members; but to murder someone's reputation publicly is vile and inexcusable. I would never go to an astrologer who wrote those things about another client. Betrayal of trust is the worst crime.
Sincerely,
Laurie Friese, 4-year degreed Indian Astrologer (Jyotish)
LaurieFriese.com
This book is very interesting from an historical perspective--giving inside details of the major events of RR's time in the White House. I have several things against what Ms. Quigley wrote. I will give them in order from least important to most important.
Firstly, I wish that there had been more astrological detail for me to evaluate. I realize that Ms. Quigley was writing for the general public and didn't want to get too technical.
More importantly, I found her lack of humility disturbing and off-putting. It was preposterous and to me in the same profession, embarrassing, that she bragged so insistently and repeatedly that she had "protected the president" from assassination and that she was the creator of the "Teflon" presidency. No astrologer or any other human being can prove that they were the protection or creation of something that did not happen. There is no way of proving that the electrical grid in the whole world didn't stop because of the preventive efforts for Y2K. Prevention cannot be proved--period. Is she God? Couldn't other factors have affected RR's presidency? Such as his charm and likeableness, his speech writers, his public relations people, his quick acting and self sacrificing body guards? It is a little presumptuous to think she was the sole protector and creator of it all! No astrologer (or anyone) unless they are angels can claim to categorically know that they have prevented a tragedy in someone's life. The fact is that with everything in this very imperfect world, astrology is not 100% accurate and anyone that says so is deluding themselves and others.
Still, I can understand this foible. She wants to promote the efficacy of astrology and to silence the critics. I do, too. This much is true: to be forewarned in order to prepare oneself is to be forearmed. If you knew that you were going to get cancer, wouldn't you change your diet, stop smoking, etc., in order to increase your chances of prevention?
No, it is not Ms. Quigley's arrogance that bothers me; but the truly treacherous thing she did in this book--the cruel things she wrote about Nancy Reagan. An astrologer or anyone in the helping profession should be held to the highest ethical standards. Confidentiality, kindness and loyalty should be our basic standards of behavior. People come to us who are vulnerable, and anxious. Nancy Reagan had good reason to be worried. After only 69 days in office, her husband narrowly missed being assassinated. He was the first president elected in a year ending in zero that wasn't killed since Harrison in 1840. Ms. Quigley wrote a lot of nice things about Nancy Reagan in her book. Nevertheless, one or two mean words can destroy thousands of good ones. It's bad enough to tell privately one's friends and family members; but to murder someone's reputation publicly is vile and inexcusable. I would never go to an astrologer who wrote those things about another client. Betrayal of trust is the worst crime.
Sincerely,
Laurie Friese, 4-year degreed Indian Astrologer (Jyotish)
LaurieFriese.com
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great read! It could be partly because I understand her lingo (being an astrologer). Joan is phenomenal and I do believe what she has recorded in this book. I am just sorry that the Reagans never felt compelled to admit how helpful Joan's astrological as well as simple "common sense" advice had been for them all those years.
Reagan wanted no part of sitting down to talks with those 'barbarous Ruskies' until Joan put in a good word about how Ronnie and Gorby would hit it off and together end the cold war. I believe her. Afterall, Ronnie had just left a "black-listing" Hollywood where people that spoke with a Communist might end up never working again.
Thank goodness for Joan. From her writing, I feel that she is extremely intelligent and very well versed in world history and world political issues. This contributed greatly to her being able to put in a good word for working with the Russians whose system was on the verge of collapse for those with a good antenna. No, not our CIA. They had no idea that the end of the cold war was near and Gorby was ready for a hand up into a different way of politics at home, but Joan knew. Reads like a good mystery.
Where is Joan now when we really need her?
Reagan wanted no part of sitting down to talks with those 'barbarous Ruskies' until Joan put in a good word about how Ronnie and Gorby would hit it off and together end the cold war. I believe her. Afterall, Ronnie had just left a "black-listing" Hollywood where people that spoke with a Communist might end up never working again.
Thank goodness for Joan. From her writing, I feel that she is extremely intelligent and very well versed in world history and world political issues. This contributed greatly to her being able to put in a good word for working with the Russians whose system was on the verge of collapse for those with a good antenna. No, not our CIA. They had no idea that the end of the cold war was near and Gorby was ready for a hand up into a different way of politics at home, but Joan knew. Reads like a good mystery.
Where is Joan now when we really need her?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
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Has any other US President ever used the services of an astrologer to guide their activities? Read more
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Published 20 months ago by Acute Observer
Too many unsubstantiated claims
After reading this book I'm firmly convinced that Joan Quigley truly believes in astrology. I'm also convinced that, despite her self-professed belief that astrology is a... Read more
Published on January 16, 2006 by Marvin D. Pipher
Rather Dull and too much Focus on Astrology
This book is interesting for one reason, and one reason alone: Joan Quigley, as Mrs. Reagan's personal astrologist, was able to influence world events. Read more
Published on February 16, 2004 by Michael Gordon
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