The Birthchart of Richard Nixon

Introduction

It’s safe to say that Sensors have had a stronghold on the political system as long as memory serves. (Of course, with Donald Trump being an ENTJ, he is shaking things up, you can read the article I wrote on the Birthchart of Donald Trump here.)  Corruption has spread around the world like a venereal disease at a hippie commune.  Being intuitive, it can be hard to find your place in this Sensor-driven world. Quite often, just showing intuitive traits can translate into neurodivergence, and is often deemed as a mental illness by the powers that be. Society is catered for sensors to get ahead in life, especially STJ’s.  The school system, college, and the workforce are crafted for SJ’s to flourish. More often than not, if you are a square peg for their round hole, you are left in the dust.  Human bias gets the best of everybody, including myself.  So let’s take a step back and look at one of the most corrupt presidents in history, one I believe to be an INTJ. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the birthchart of the 37th President of the United States– Richard Milhous Nixon.

Even after a typing video of Nixon, which you can watch here. There is still something in the back of my mind egging me on that he is another type. Perhaps there is even a level of denial seeing that Nixon is behind some of the most harmful policies that the U.S. has had to endure. His birthchart even looks different compared to other INTJ’s as well.  It’s still worth taking a deep dive and seeing what we can find out that makes Tricky Dick tick.  One thing about examining presidents, I think Trump can be excluded here since he isn’t exactly ‘presidential.” Presidents, and hopeful presidential candidates are groomed to speak, act, look, and even smile in very specific ways. Someone running for President must check all these preconceived boxes, in order not to say something incriminating that their opponents can sling mud at, or to create public outrage which may result in a loss of votes.  So when it comes to typing a President, these factors can present a challenge. Let’s look at some of the scandals and policy changes that Nixon is noted for.  One of the largest fiascos in American History has to be the War on Drugs. 

On October 27th, 1970, the 37th POTUS ushered in the era as we know as the War on Drugs.  The Hippie revolution, which was almost single handedly quelled by Charles Manson and his cultish antics, experimented with a wide variety of substances such as Marijuana

and LSD.  Prior to the decades of demonization, such drugs as LSD and THC were seen as mind-altering and soul-expanding.  With people partaking in such things as psychedelics freely caused political upheaval  where the status quo was challenged and for the first time in American History, citizens were standing up against the Vietnam War.  What government wants a populace that can think for themselves? So the Nixon Administration created the War on Drugs.  As the decades passed, American citizens have been victims of mass incarceration as lies perpetuated by the elite painted near-harmless drugs such as weed and psilocybin as these brain-rotting substances that led to a life of crime and addiction. Such laws as these created the field of private corrections which sadly profited in often harmless drug offenders being locked away.  

Another folly that the Nixon administration played on the world was removing the U.S. off the gold standard.  This took the U.S. Dollar and removed its value based on gold, and made it basically an imaginary concept. Since most of the World’s economy is valued according to the current strength of American Currency.  When push comes to shove, American money is virtually as worthless as the paper it’s printed on. This is where the term “Swiss bank accounts” has become a cliche. Switzerland is one of the few countries to still value its economy off something tangible. There is plenty to discuss about Richard Nixon and his wack policies, but let’s jump in and take a look at his Natal chart and see what we can find!

Richard Nixon’s INTJ Sun?

Many INTJs have Planets on cusps, especially the Sun.

As I extrapolate birthcharts and make connections, one common thing that I am seeing with INTJ charts is that the Sun sign is often on a cusp.  While the Sun is well into industrious Capricorn, Nixon’s Star Sign is teetering on the cusp of the 5th House.  There is often an argument amongst Astrologer’s about cusps. Some argue when there is a cusp, that there is often a blend of energies; while others count the placement where it actually is.  Personally, I am still playing around with differing theories, but generally stick to the blend of two energies.  Not only does this add flavor, it seems to add a lot of push and pull to the psyche of its native.  Energies such as these are often contradictory in nature. As I said, this is starting to seem common within the charts of INTJs, who are often walking contradictions. 

Having a Capricorn Sun would indicate someone that is hard working in nature.  The Capricorn native might be quite rigid and practical, possibly to a fault.  The Sun is seen as the overarching personality of the native, the equation which one must become.  Nixon seeing such people as the freedom loving hippies practicing mind-expanding autonomy might just trigger a Capricorn Sun, resulting in such draconic laws.  With Nixon’s Seagoat of a Sun just passing into the House of Joy, one can see how such oppressive, and restrictive laws would make sense to someone as pragmatic as Richard Nixon.  The Earthy Sun of Nixon is also making a trine to his Virgo Rising and his Taurian Saturn, not leaving a lot of room for flexibility and fun. This abundance of Earth energy could indicate a fascination with money as well.

Why did Nixon Remove the U.S. Off the Gold Standard?

Though it being a loose trine, let’s take a look at Nixon’s Saturn which is embedded in a practical Taurus in the 9th House.  Though there are a whole plethora of criticisms with Nixon and his administration, many praised Nixon over the years with his knowledge of foreign policy.  Being in the 9th House of Foreign Affairs, having Saturn here would show someone who can truly discipline himself with policies centering other nations.  With this being a Taurus placement, having knowledge of currency and finances seems legit for Nixon as well.  A President with this Saturean placement  makes a lot of sense taking the United States off the gold standard.  Saturn is quite busy in the birthchart of Nixon, aspecting many other planets, one that stands out like a sore thumb is Ricky’s paranoid Neptune.

Neptune is a Water(gate) Planet?

Just sixty degrees away, is dreamy Neptune making a sextile to Nixon’s Stoic Saturn.  In true INTJ fashion, another thing Richard Nixon was known for was his paranoia.  Nixon had constant fears of being betrayed, and had the White House being recorded on a perpetual basis.  With Neptune being in Cancer in the communal 11th House, this could indicate that Nixon is distrusting towards his associates and family.  Nixon had reported delusional paranoia towards “Jews, Ivy-leaguers, and intellectuals” deeming them as “arrogant” and  “above the law.”  Deluded Neptune makes an opposition to Nixon’s Sun, indicating something going directly against him.  While not aspected to Neptune, Nixon’s North Node in Libra in the 1st House could indicate some hidden political motivations and “not playing fair” as well, but more on the Nodes later.  

Nixon’s Paranoia doesn’t stop there.  Nixon was also charged with wiretapping and surveillance at the Watergate Complex in Washington D.C., home of the Democratic National Convention. This was the downfall of Nixon as he knew when he was ahead and was the first President to resign.  Hopefully we will return to the days when politicians are actually held responsible for their actions. Now we have felons sitting in as Presidents, in the meantime, felons who are American citizens can’t even vote!  Neptune is not the only planet to blame here. Let’s look at Neptune’s next door neighbor, Pluto, who resides in the 10th House of Career.

Pluto of Paranoia.

Many World leaders have Pluto in the Tenth House.

Pluto in the 10th House suggests one major factor, a need for power; another INTJ theme.  With Nixon having this Plutonian placement, he wanted to be in control, and to know what was going on.  Nixon’s wiretapping and surveillance demonstrates the need to expose what’s hidden while trying to remain hidden himself.  While Nixon has Pluto in Gemini, this is of course a generational placement, however it’s hard to ignore the Geminian links to communication and espionage.  Often with a need for dominance soon is followed by arrogance and complacency.  Notably, Pluto also makes an opposition with Mercury, along with Mars and Jupiter forming another stellium on the cusp of Sagittarius and Capricorn.  This stellium also goes back to Nixon’s Saturn via quincunx, exacerbating the need for even more gripping control.  More often than not, INTJs are often ostracized for the overarching need for autonomy and independence over their lives.  However Nixon was the face of America, and at that time, not even the President wasn’t immune to criminal prosecution. Oh how the times have unfortunately changed. 

Let’s trail back to the Mercury, Jupiter, Mars stellium that we just glossed over.  As I previously mentioned, I am catching on that INTJs often have many planets lingering on the cusps of houses and signs.  Here we see this stellium making an out-of-quality conjunction with Mars in Sagittarius, dipping its toes in Capricorn where the other two planets lay.  This, I would interrupt as Nixon having a very practical, down to Earth approach in communication. I would imagine Nixon speaking frankly and pragmatically.  Let’s not forget that this stellium is residing in the private and secure 4th House.  Like most INTJs, Nixon had a private streak about him. Nixon had the need to hear out other’s conversations due to intrusive, paranoid thoughts, but it all imploded when the recording devices in the White House backfired on him.  Seeing that Jupiter and Mars are involved in this stellium, this not only expanded Richard’s communication skills, it might have very well made him quite aggressive if his privacy was intruded upon.  This stellium also makes a sextile to another conjunction, Venus and Chiron in Nixon's Pisces 6th house of skills.

The Wound of a President 

Richard Nixon has a wound that needed healing via Chiron in Pisces in the 6th House. Whatever is making a conjunction should be added to the mix, and in Nixon’s case, Venus is conjoined with the Centaur, who was starting to creep close to the Descendant of Nixon.  As I further examine the natalchart of Richard Nixon, it becomes more clear that he was an INTJ.  Like most INTJs, Nixon shows signs of struggle with relationships. With Nixon having the Chiron-Venus conjunction in the 6th House of Skills, Nixon might have felt inept to serve others.  This configuration also is one of the many placements in Nixon’s chart to aspect Saturn, and in this case; that aspect is a square. 

  Another INTJ theme that was previously mentioned was his need for control and autonomy. INTJs are strikingly independent, and take ownership of their own lives, sometimes with vehement resilience. Tricky Dick might have had a complex where he felt he needed to be in charge and micromanage others to quell that chaos and transform it into order. This is of course very off putting, and may have driven people away.  This is a trap that INTJs often fall into. There is often a strong desire to relate to others, but INTJs keep others at arm distance to maintain control. This often causes a cycle of despair, seeing that it's hard to relate to someone who is so closed off and distant.  Chiron-Venus making a square to Saturn in Taurus in the 9th House might have been a driving force for Nixon to accomplish the American Presidency. INTjs often overcompensate to feel adequate, or even superior. Few can say they were elected the President of the United States, and Nixon was able to accomplish that, though he eventually fell flat on his face.

Nixon was in a Rebellious Moon

Not far away from Nixon’s Chiron-Venus amalgamation lies the quirky Moon of the former POTUS residing in the preceding sign of Aquarius.  This particular Moon placements seems quite fitting for an INTJ, seeing that Nixon must have felt content with developing eclectic skills to become the 36th and 37th President of the United States.  Probably being one of the few intuitives to hold the highest office in the U.S. Nixon was definitely an outlier, seeing that his second term as President was short lived.  Nixon was famously quoted saying “ I am not a crook” while throwing up the sign of victory with both hands. Aquarius can represent just that, a criminal.  Interestingly enough, Nixon also utilized the technology of the time to wiretap the Oval office and the Watergate Complex.  It appears that Nixon may have done these criminal actions to quench his ongoing paranoia, which of course ultimately backfired. The Aquarian Moon of our former President is making a square to its traditional ruler, Saturn.

As aforementioned, Nixon’s iconoclastic Moon is aspecting its ancient ruler Saturn, however not far away in the 5th House in the same sign of Aquarius, lies the modern ruler Uranus.  Uranus is right at home with the sign it rules, and was likely quite content in stirring a few bots in the House of Joy.  While I wasn’t able to fight a consistent, reliable source,  there is some indication that Nixon did partake in adulterous affairs while married to his beloved wife Pat.  The 5th House is also monikered as the House of Affairs, and having the rabble rousing Uranus  in the mix, Nixon being an adulterer would seem applicable. Of course, one placement should never indicate such a brash assumption, but its of course a potentiality.  In true Uranian fashion, Saturn is making an out of quality trine with Nixon’s stuffy Saturn, meaning that Saturn and Uranus are in differing elements.  Saturn obviously is a major player in the chart of Richard Nixon. Let’s take a gander to see if there is a Saturine influence on the Nodes of the Moon.

The North and South Node of Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon has quite an interesting Chiron Placement which is infused with loving Venus in spacey Pisces.  Another indicator of this is possible codependency.  Having a North Node in Aries in the 7th House really backs this theory up.  Like many INTJs, Nixon put on a front with his gruff no-nonsense exterior.  As Aries often is, this North Node placement is pretty straight forward, however Aries lies in the House ruled by the South Node, Libra.  As Steven Forrest puts it, we can look at the planet as the “what” the sign as the “how” and the house as the “where.”  Aries represents individuality and asserting yourself. The North Node is the point where you must go towards in order to develop fulfillment and soul-growth. And the 7th House is the House of Relationship. To put it simply,  Nixon needed to establish independence with others and not fall into guilt trips, codependency, and the archetypal “nagging wife.”  

For more context let’s take a step back and look at the Ruler of Aries where the North Node lies, Mars.  Mars and Aries share similar themes, but we must put our focus on where Mars is and what it aspects. As Aforementioned, Mars makes an out of quality conjunction with talkative Mercury and jovial Jupiter, pointing again to communicating and asserting oneself in a controlling, yet practical manner.  Nixon had to use the Martian trait of finding what he wanted, and aspiring towards that goal. As previously mentioned, power-hungry Pluto makes a 180 degree opposition to the Arian Ruler,  showing a need for dominance and power in the public sector.   Becoming President of the United States, it’s safe to say Richard Nixon didn’t fall short on that goal. 

What was Nixon supposed to stray away from in his life?  Looking at the Libraian South Node in the 1st House, Nixon needed to avoid allowing relationships to define him.  Presidents and Presidential hopefuls are often groomed to appeal to the masses.  At one point, Americans expected a clean cut older white man in a suit that was Christian. Perhaps Richard Nixon embraced this too much and acted as a chameleon, blending into the backdrop of whatever surface was necessary to reach his goal.  Nixon played politics literally and figuratively to get into positions of power.  Looking the Venus, the Ruler of the South Node, we discussed the conjunction it formed with Chiron.  Nixon might not have felt adequate with the way he was, so he relied on the mass public impression in order to feel good enough.  Like many things in the chart of Richard Nixon, Venus squares Saturn, showing a need to dominate others. The Neighbor of Venus, Chiron forms a quincunx to the South Node itself, indicating a need for Nixon to feel comfortable in his own skin. 

With this deep analysis, there was a push-pull element to Richard Nixon. One one side, a need to conform and be whatever Nixon needed to be. On the other hand, Nixon needed to find his own voice and sing his own swan song.  Was becoming President of the United States ideal for Nixon. One could argue, having a South Node in Libra shows a need to stray away from politics.  With many ITNJs, the chart of Nixon shows a need for power and autonomy, be a need to lighten up and be more agreeable.  After his Presidential resignation, Nixon went on to author nine book and traveled the world and was seen as an “elder statesmen.” Seeing Nixon's North Node ruler reading in adventurous Sagittarius making a conjunction to Mercury. Becoming an author and traveling the world and sharing his wisdom in foreign policy might have been more fulfilling for the former President. Having Nixon’s all important Saturn in the 9th House seems to be the epitome of being seen as an “elder statesman” seeing all the important aspects Saturn makes to other planets in his chart.  That goes to show, a career of power is not for everyone.

Thanks everyone for reading. If you haven’t yet, check out the typing video I did on Richard Nixon Here.  Stay tuned for the video version of Nixon’s chart reading as well. Did I miss something important? Do you share any placements with Richard Nixon. Please let me know in the comments!