When Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned on October 10, 1973, Nixon consulted senior Republicans about a replacement. Their unanimous choice was Gerald Ford, the House Minority leader for the previous eight years. Ford was selected for his normalcy and fairness, qualities sorely needed at the helm during the scandalous Watergate years. Astrologically, what would indicate this sudden and unexpected promotion?
Gerald Ford was born with a Sun-Neptune conjunction in Cancer (July 14, 1913; 12:43 am; Omaha, NB), which naturally attunes him to the political undercurrents of the times. The Sun-Neptune individual has a strong sense of being guided by higher forces, and can often identify with the "Savior" archetype. Ford's accidental presidency saved the nation from a major constitutional crisis and unprecedented moral decay.
With steady, traditional Taurus Rising, Ford's ruling planet becomes Venus. His tenth house of career holds Uranus, the planet of unexpected developments. Since his chart ruler Venus is harmoniously trine Uranus, Ford can personally benefit from crisis. Ford's strong connections to the U.S. horoscope primed him for his role as a politician who serves the nation: his Mercury (symbolizing service) is conjunct the U.S. Midheaven, while his Midheaven is aligned with the U.S. Mercury.
The celestial handwriting was on the wall when Ford replaced Nixon on August 9, 1974. At the time, transiting Uranus was exactly squaring his Midheaven (and the nation's Mercury). The transiting Sun was exactly conjunct his Mercury (and the nation's Midheaven). Then, Chiron*, known as the "wounded healer", was also squaring his Midheaven, giving him the astrological confirmation of being a healer.
