Jeane Dixon

Jeane Dixon (1904–1997) was an American astrologer and purported psychic who gained public fame for predictions about political events, especially a widely publicized claim concerning John F. Kennedy.

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John F. Kennedy assassination: The murder of U.S. president John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Dixon was later credited with forecasting Kennedy’s death, though her earlier wording was not precise.
Ruth Montgomery: An American journalist and author who wrote a 1965 biography of Jeane Dixon. Montgomery’s bestseller helped turn Dixon’s life and predictions into a national story.
Astrology: A system that interprets the positions of celestial bodies as meaningful for human affairs and events. Dixon used astrological charts as one basis for public predictions and private advice.
Astrological testing: The empirical evaluation of whether astrological predictions or personality claims perform better than chance. Controlled tests differ from the selected anecdotes that sustained Dixon’s public reputation.
Jeane Dixon effect: The tendency to remember successful predictions while overlooking failed ones, especially when predictions are numerous or vague. Her reputation became a classic example of selective recall shaping a psychic’s apparent accuracy.
Marilyn Monroe: An American actor and cultural icon who died in 1962. Dixon’s claimed warnings about Monroe’s death contributed to her reputation for celebrity predictions.
Confirmation bias: The tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information in ways that support existing beliefs. It helps explain why remembered hits can outweigh Dixon’s numerous inaccurate predictions.
Cold reading: A technique for inferring personal information from a subject’s reactions and general statements. It provides a non-psychic explanation for some apparently revealing readings.
Nancy Reagan: First lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and wife of President Ronald Reagan. Dixon reportedly advised Nancy Reagan on astrology and presidential scheduling.
Richard Nixon: The 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. Dixon’s prediction that Nixon would return to national political prominence was counted among her successes.