VACAVILLE, Nov. 5 – Charles Manson, convicted in the Sharon Tate murders, believed his own personal hex on former President Richard M. Nixon caused Nixon’s Watergate woes, says an ex-prison psychologist.

Wesley Hiler, Manson’s therapist at the California Medical Facility here, said Monday the former cult leader thought his powers of mental telepathy were actually getting to Nixon and hurting him.

“When he arrived at Vacaville he was actively psychotic,” said Hiler in an interview. “He had a lot of delusions of influence. He believed he was responsible for Nixon’s problems.”

Hiller said Manson wanted to wreak revenge on Nixon because once during the Manson trial. Nixon made a remark in which he referred to Manson as guilty.

Manson, who is serving a life term for the murders of Miss Tate and six other persons, was transferred to Folsom Prison Oct. 22 following a seven-month stay at the medical facility.

Folsom Prisons chief medical officer, Dr. Everly Owens, said the Vacaville treatment left Manson in better mental condition.

“He has better contact with reality now,” Owens said.

“He is less depressed and more alert. He communicates much better.”

Manson now is lodged in Folsom Prison’s security housing unit, Owens said.