Obama & Biden

[Jim Eshelman]

Barack Obama: August 4, 1961, 7:24 PM, Honolulu, HI
Joseph Biden: November 20, 1942, 8:30 AM, Scranton, PA

New York Times today published a wonderful feature exploring the nature and evolution of the persona and working relationship of then-Senators, later President and Vice President, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/28/us/p ... a_20190428

I thought it worth an exploration of the interaction of their charts.

First, straightforward synastry: This is one of the great, positive chart comparisons of all time. Its no wonder they became such strong friends. Place Biden's chart around Obama's and look at what the two malefics, two benefics, and two luminaries do: Biden's trademark Sun-Venus conjunction is exactly at Obama's MC. Biden's Moon exactly squares Obama's Jupiter. Biden's Mars is minutes from square Obama's Sun which, in a healthy working relationship, is a very positive aspect of enormous energy (but notice that it leaves Obama in the place of greater strength). Biden's Saturn leaves Obama's chart alone. His Uranus exactly conjoins Obama's Moon near Obama's IC.

Flipping the chart around - Obama's planet around Biden's chart - gives a different tone, still positive but not quite so bubbly. The best connection is Obama's Moon minutes from Biden's Descendant (on his Uranus exactly, opposite his Sun-Venus more widely). But notice Obama's Mars in Leo on Biden's MC: It's clear who was in charge, who was at the top, an (reciprocating the Sun-Mars interchange) shows both great ability together and also the chance for some conflict. Ogama's Sun squares Biden's Mars (as seen), his Venus exactly square's Biden's Neptune (I have no idea what that means), his Jupiter squares Biden's Moon (as seen).

The strangest (and therefore perhaps most interesting) interchange is Biden's Saturn 0°04' from opposite Obama's Jupiter. I would have to spend some time thinking about exactly what this means in their dynamic.

Overall, this is a very strong and very positive synastry. It shows both the quality of their unavoidable friendship and the great success of their partnership in the White House, with realistic indications of some friction here and there. Their story is a "buddy movie."

[Jim Eshelman]

In contrast, their Composite is not a good description either of their friendship or of their working effectiveness. It's a dour, difficult chart with only small relief here and there from tension and trouble. It's the kind of chart to make one question how much we can rely on a Composite.

Sun closely opposes Saturn with a close Mars-Neptune conjunction near Midheaven. Uranus is closest to an angle, and one might take this as their progressive agenda; yet, in the context of the other aspects, it seems tense and disturbing.

Moon has a close trine to Venus, to sooth things a bit, and Jupiter isn't far from IC, so the chart isn't without its softer spots; but that Sun-Saturn opposition and Mars-Neptune conjunction require some serious overcoming! This does not seem to me the chart of a relationship that successfully managed an economic recovery and delivering the first nationwide health care plan, in both cases winning their way by aggressive spending. From this chart, one would not expect deep friendship to develop when they were thrust together into demanding situations with divergent personalities.

If one turns to the house model of interpreting this, things look even less believable. One of the strongest areas of their partnership (and of Biden's strengths) were in 9th house matters: foreign affairs, for example, where Biden especially took leadership (having led his party in the Senate in that area for many years). This Composite has one of the worst 9th houses one could see, including the Mars-Neptune conjunction and a Sun that is closely opposed by Saturn. Only the Mercury is relatively unscathed.

I'm not sold on this chart at all.