Bob Woodward, a reporter for the Washington Post in 1972, was the first to report on the Watergate scandal. Although Carl Bernstein had an equal part in the reporting of Watergate, and in the writing of the book All the President’s Men, his birth chart is not shown here because his time of birth is unknown. A chart can be analyzed without the birth time, however the Ascendant, placement of the planets in the houses, and the exact Moon degree will not be reliable.As a result, the charts posted here have the Transits of the night of the break-in as it is compared to Bob Woodward’s horoscope whose birth time is known. Woodward was first assigned the story by the editor Harry Rosenfeld, and Bernstein came on board soon after.

What we are looking for are Transit connections from the break-in event, shown in the outer wheel, to planets in Woodward’s birth horoscope in the center wheel. For significant events, there should be major planetary interactions with close if not exact Aspects. Interestingly, we don’t find close Transit ties between Woodward’s chart and the well-publicized burglary and arrests of June 17, 1972. However, much more can be seen when using the chart for May 28, 1972, which is the initial break-in date. This is seen much like an inaugural chart for an event. On May 28th, five men burglarized the Watergate building, illegally entered the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), stole files and documents and placed a bug on the office phone.

The second break-in was on June 17th, when the men returned to the scene of the crime to fix what apparently malfunctioned with the wiretapping devise. The security guard became suspicious when he noticed tape that the burglars had placed over several door locks in the building. That prompted him to call the police, which led to the arrest of the five men when caught red-handed.

The chart for May 28th represents the Watergate scandal, because it is the first action taken to launch the clandestine plot devised by President Richard Nixon and members of his cabinet. The Aspects highly support this date, because the planets show a distinct interaction with Woodward’s horoscope. And it is through Woodward’s initial and continuing reporting, together with Carl Bernstein, that the American public first became aware of the unlawful activities of the Nixon administration.

There was a Full Moon on the night of May 28, 1972, and that was the trigger configuration that activated Woodward’s 3rd to 9th house natal Saturn/Moon Opposition – the 3rd and 9th houses = writing/reporting and publication. This vital Aspect found facilitation through The Washington Post, whereby the investigative reporters progressively uncovered the facts of the break-in fiasco.

Woodward’s Saturn Return was in full sway, and transformative Pluto was transiting his Ascendant. Pluto is slow moving and retrogrades and stations several times in its Transit to create a profound affect on the native. The Transit included an Opposition to Woodward’s natal Mercury, inspiring him to use the writing skills he himself had, as well as those of his partner Carl Bernstein, represented by Mercury’s placement on the 7th house cusp. Bernstein, the more seasoned reporter, assisted greatly in the coverage, using his experienced writing skills and daring investigative tactics.

“There was no room in the cab, but Carl, uninvited, got in anyway, piling in on top of these people (two defendants and their lawyers) as the door slammed. He ended up flying with the lawyer to New York City and came back with another piece of the puzzle. The point: Very aggressive reporting is often necessary.”  Bob Woodward, at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, April 29, 2017.

A stunning connection is shown between the Watergate, US and Bob Woodward charts. The Full Moon on May 28, 1972 ties together the three charts in the dynamic that kept them together until Nixon resigned. The Full Moon parallels the US natal Uranus with the break-in’s Transiting Saturn. Woodward’s natal Saturn and Moon are shown just outside the rim of the outer wheel. The Watergate Uranus is exactly Conjunct the US Saturn close to the US 2nd house cusp. To gain leverage and resources was a prime motivation in the initial plot against the DNC.

The chart below takes a look at the planetary energies during the final days leading up to Nixon’s resignation in August of 1974. Nixon’s chart, in the center wheel, was receiving a slow moving Square of long duration from Transit Uranus to his natal Neptune. This put great pressure on the point that Nixon’s chart shared in common with the US natal Mercury, which was also receiving the transitional Square.

Transit Pluto was also in a transitional Square with the US Jupiter, but another very powerful indicator, aside from the Progressed Station and Transit Squares from Pluto and Uranus is the Transit Saturn Conjunction with the US natal Sun when Nixon finally resigned from office. Other supportive but less intense signals of the end were Transit Venus coming to Conjunct the US Mercury and Nixon’s Neptune, as Venus reveals when and how things are brought to conclusion.

Nixon’s Progressed Sun Squares the US natal Mars, showing how he himself angered an entire nation, putting a bi-partisan Congress into action against him. And his Progressed Jupiter was in Opposition to the US Sun to indicate the direct imposition his inflated ego had on the country’s population – represented by the Sun.

Nixon’s natal Pluto/Mars Opposition is activated by the Progressed Station of Pluto, shown circled in red at the midheaven. This is by far the most important Aspect to take note of in the general array of planetary interactions. A Pluto Station in Progressions is one of the most powerful Aspects for change that a chart and life related to it can encounter. During this Pluto Station on his midheaven, Nixon brought his embarrassing downfall into the full view of an entire world.

Nixon’s parting words seem tinged with conscience: “Always remember; others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win, unless you hate them – and then you destroy yourself.”

Nixon’s natal Mars at 30 degrees Sagittarius is the Sabian Symbol The Pope. Here is where the ego blatantly shows itself, full bloom, in its superiority complex.

SAGITTARIUS 30 The Pope This is a symbol of human excellence on the side of the special values exalted in the various social and political hierarchies of modern civilization, and of man’s ambition as entirely inadequate except as he is able to meet some exceptional need of everyday experience and so proceed to dramatize whatever abilities he may have developed in climbing to the position in which he finds himself. A person is strengthened within himself by the appreciation he succeeds in winning from his fellows. The keyword is SANCTITY. When positive, the degree is an effective and spectacular sacrifice of self in some enduring service to the race at large, and when negative, inordinate love of self-display and surrender to a lust for power.

“I’d say this question of “what is news” becomes even more relevant and essential when we are covering the President of the United States. Richard Nixon tried to make the conduct of the press the issue in Watergate instead of the conduct of the president and his men.”  Carl Bernstein

Related post:  US, Nixon and Trump Compared

 

_________________________________________________________