What Does Joan Say?: My Seven Years as White House Astrologer to Nancy and Ronald Reagan

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?

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.