Joan Quigley
Encyclopedia
Joan Quigley of San Francisco
, is an astrologer
best known for her astrological advice to the Reagan White House in the 1980s. Quigley was born in Kansas City
, Missouri
.
She was called on by First Lady
Nancy Reagan
in 1981 after John Hinckley's attempted assassination
of the president, and stayed on as the White House astrologer in secret until being outed in 1988 by ousted former chief of staff Donald Regan
.
. Nancy Reagan grew concerned after the attempt on her husband's life
on March 30, 1981 and asked Quigley if she could have foreseen, and possibly prevented, the assassination attempt. Quigley answered affirmatively, that had she been looking, she would have known. Mrs. Reagan enlisted Quigley's astrological advice on a regular basis, and would hold regular telephone conversations with her. Explaining why she turned to Quigley, Nancy later wrote, "Very few people can understand what it's like to have your husband shot at and almost die, and then have him exposed all the time to enormous crowds, tens of thousands of people, any one of whom might be a lunatic with a gun... I was doing everything I could think of to protect my husband and keep him alive."
Quigley later wrote a book about her experiences, titled What Does Joan Say?. Quigley writes, "Not since the days of the Roman emperor
s—and never in the history of the United States
Presidency—has an astrologer played such a significant role in the nation's affairs of State." Although that phrase is certainly debatable, Quigley's insight was used frequently.
When Donald Regan
took over as Chief of President Reagan's staff in 1985, he was told by Reagan aide Michael Deaver
about Quigley. Regan, who frequently quarreled with Nancy Reagan, resigned in 1987 after the Iran-Contra affair
and mixed reviews of his job performance. Although some claimed his revelations were meant as revenge, Regan revealed to the nation that Mrs. Reagan consulted Quigley in his autobiography For The Record. After the leak, Quigley was swarmed with media attention, although rarely gave advice to the Reagans again. Of the entire incident, Mrs. Reagan stated, "Nobody was hurt by it—except, possibly, me."
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, is an astrologer
Astrologer
An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a horoscope for the time of an event, such as a person's birth, and interprets celestial points and their placements at the time of the event to better understand someone, determine the auspiciousness of an...
best known for her astrological advice to the Reagan White House in the 1980s. Quigley was born in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
She was called on by First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
in 1981 after John Hinckley's attempted assassination
Reagan assassination attempt
The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on Monday, March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. While leaving a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded by John Hinckley, Jr...
of the president, and stayed on as the White House astrologer in secret until being outed in 1988 by ousted former chief of staff Donald Regan
Donald Regan
Donald Thomas Regan ,was the 66th United States Secretary of the Treasury, from 1981 to 1985, and Chief of Staff from 1985 to 1987 in the Ronald Reagan Administration, where he advocated "Reaganomics" and tax cuts to create jobs and stimulate production.-Early life:Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts,...
.
Relationship with Nancy Reagan
Quigley first met Nancy Reagan in the 1970s on The Merv Griffin ShowThe Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
. Nancy Reagan grew concerned after the attempt on her husband's life
Reagan assassination attempt
The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on Monday, March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. While leaving a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded by John Hinckley, Jr...
on March 30, 1981 and asked Quigley if she could have foreseen, and possibly prevented, the assassination attempt. Quigley answered affirmatively, that had she been looking, she would have known. Mrs. Reagan enlisted Quigley's astrological advice on a regular basis, and would hold regular telephone conversations with her. Explaining why she turned to Quigley, Nancy later wrote, "Very few people can understand what it's like to have your husband shot at and almost die, and then have him exposed all the time to enormous crowds, tens of thousands of people, any one of whom might be a lunatic with a gun... I was doing everything I could think of to protect my husband and keep him alive."
Quigley later wrote a book about her experiences, titled What Does Joan Say?. Quigley writes, "Not since the days of the Roman emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
s—and never in the history of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Presidency—has an astrologer played such a significant role in the nation's affairs of State." Although that phrase is certainly debatable, Quigley's insight was used frequently.
When Donald Regan
Donald Regan
Donald Thomas Regan ,was the 66th United States Secretary of the Treasury, from 1981 to 1985, and Chief of Staff from 1985 to 1987 in the Ronald Reagan Administration, where he advocated "Reaganomics" and tax cuts to create jobs and stimulate production.-Early life:Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts,...
took over as Chief of President Reagan's staff in 1985, he was told by Reagan aide Michael Deaver
Michael Deaver
Michael Keith Deaver was a member of President Ronald Reagan's White House staff serving as White House Deputy Chief of Staff under James Baker III and Donald Regan from January 1981 until May 1985.-Early life:...
about Quigley. Regan, who frequently quarreled with Nancy Reagan, resigned in 1987 after the Iran-Contra affair
Iran-Contra Affair
The Iran–Contra affair , also referred to as Irangate, Contragate or Iran-Contra-Gate, was a political scandal in the United States that came to light in November 1986. During the Reagan administration, senior Reagan administration officials and President Reagan secretly facilitated the sale of...
and mixed reviews of his job performance. Although some claimed his revelations were meant as revenge, Regan revealed to the nation that Mrs. Reagan consulted Quigley in his autobiography For The Record. After the leak, Quigley was swarmed with media attention, although rarely gave advice to the Reagans again. Of the entire incident, Mrs. Reagan stated, "Nobody was hurt by it—except, possibly, me."