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VICE: DICK CHENEY AND THE HIJACKING OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
Dick Cheney is the most powerful yet most unpopular vice president in American history. He has thrived alongside a president who, from day one, had little interest in policy and limited experience in the ways of Washington. Yet Cheney's relentless rise to prominence over three decades has happened almost by stealth. Now veteran reporters Lou Dubose and Jake Bernstein reveal the disturbing truth about the man who has successfully co-opted executive control over the U.S. government, serving as the de facto 'shadow president' of the most dominant White House in a generation.
Cheney has always been an astute politician. He survived the collapse of the Nixon presidency, finding a position of power in the administration of Gerald Ford. He was then elected to the House of Representatives and later served in the cabinet of the first Bush presidency. But when he became George W. Bush's running mate, Cheney reached a new level of influence. From the engineering of his own selection as vice president to his support of policies allowing torture as a permissible weapon in the 'war on terror', Cheney has consistently steered America to the right.
With unique access to numerous first-hand sources, Vice provides an unprecedented expose of Cheney's career. Its startling revelations concern the war in Iraq, his relationship with the CIA and with big business, his involvement with Enron, his attitude towards Iran and his ruthless manoeuvering which today effectively puts him in charge of American policy at home and abroad. In the tradition of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward's All the President's Men , this powerful work of investigative journalism takes us behind the scenes in Washington, into hitherto secret meetings and deep into the heart of political decision-making. Utterly gripping, Vice chronicles and exposes the hijacking of the American presidency and illustrates the arrogance of power as never before.
Cheney has always been an astute politician. He survived the collapse of the Nixon presidency, finding a position of power in the administration of Gerald Ford. He was then elected to the House of Representatives and later served in the cabinet of the first Bush presidency. But when he became George W. Bush's running mate, Cheney reached a new level of influence. From the engineering of his own selection as vice president to his support of policies allowing torture as a permissible weapon in the 'war on terror', Cheney has consistently steered America to the right.
With unique access to numerous first-hand sources, Vice provides an unprecedented expose of Cheney's career. Its startling revelations concern the war in Iraq, his relationship with the CIA and with big business, his involvement with Enron, his attitude towards Iran and his ruthless manoeuvering which today effectively puts him in charge of American policy at home and abroad. In the tradition of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward's All the President's Men , this powerful work of investigative journalism takes us behind the scenes in Washington, into hitherto secret meetings and deep into the heart of political decision-making. Utterly gripping, Vice chronicles and exposes the hijacking of the American presidency and illustrates the arrogance of power as never before.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 11, 2007
Not the best written book I've read in a while, but an some what expose on our Vice President. In a nutshell, Cheney is an unhinged paranoid lunatic who hates democracy wrapped up in a body that looks like a mushroom. Many people have suspected this already, but this book lays out the proof.
While we Americans have been blissfully unaware, Dick Cheney has spent the last 30 years of his life persistently working to undermine our constitutional system of checks and balances to enhance the power of the executive. Cheney has his (carefully hidden) fingerprints on the sleaziest schemes that have plagued the Ford, Reagan, and Bush administrations (Iran-Contra, anyone?), as well as a key role in destroying the moderate Republican wing. He's also created a climate of fear and backstabbing that has Bush, his staff, and the Republican arm of congress forced to do his bidding or face political assassination. Basically all that is evil in the current administration comes from Cheney, and any sign of actual humanity (e.g. immigration reform) comes from Bush. Makes you hate Bush slightly less, and Cheney much more.
While we Americans have been blissfully unaware, Dick Cheney has spent the last 30 years of his life persistently working to undermine our constitutional system of checks and balances to enhance the power of the executive. Cheney has his (carefully hidden) fingerprints on the sleaziest schemes that have plagued the Ford, Reagan, and Bush administrations (Iran-Contra, anyone?), as well as a key role in destroying the moderate Republican wing. He's also created a climate of fear and backstabbing that has Bush, his staff, and the Republican arm of congress forced to do his bidding or face political assassination. Basically all that is evil in the current administration comes from Cheney, and any sign of actual humanity (e.g. immigration reform) comes from Bush. Makes you hate Bush slightly less, and Cheney much more.
June 13, 2008
I write this after reading just a few pages and looking ahead at a few places: This book is maddening, infuriating. Where is the outrage in our nation at these jackels feasting on us!?!
Great book, but I have stopped reading at page 34. I CAN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER!
Where is the outrage? Why isn't this man in jail? Why are we allowing this man to take our country from us?
Great book, but I have stopped reading at page 34. I CAN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER!
Where is the outrage? Why isn't this man in jail? Why are we allowing this man to take our country from us?
January 8, 2019
Incredible breakdown of the Machiavellian antics and maneuvers made by Dick Cheney, both in and out of the White House.
This was released while he was still (V)POTUS, and doesn't seem to be connected to the recently released masterpiece, VICE which rightly won Christian Bale a Golden Globe on Sunday night.
This book delves into a lot the movie wasn't able to get to. The Iran-Contra stuff is enough to blow your mind.
Recommended for poli-sci and history geeks only.
This was released while he was still (V)POTUS, and doesn't seem to be connected to the recently released masterpiece, VICE which rightly won Christian Bale a Golden Globe on Sunday night.
This book delves into a lot the movie wasn't able to get to. The Iran-Contra stuff is enough to blow your mind.
Recommended for poli-sci and history geeks only.
June 12, 2007
If you want to know what makes our current VP the person he is, then this is an excellent book. It's amazing how much I learned about the man from reading this book. I don't want to judge him here, but I will say the authors are the same people who wrote 'bushwacked', so that should give you a view into the slant of the book. It was a very educational read and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see the true power behind the scenes.
October 15, 2016
quite good. written before the Scooter Libby trial was concluded. It almost felt good to read this as the history that it is, though certainly not behind id. Almost a study in secrecy, huh?
July 9, 2021
In the Trump years, there was this strand of liberalism/centrism in the Discourse that pined for a Republican administration under George W. Bush. Say what you will about Bush but at least he didn’t (insert latest evil thing Trump did) blah blah blah.
To which my reply was always: Yeah no. George Bush was awful. In many (not all) respects, he was worse than Trump. And one of the main reasons was Dick Cheney.
I’m one of the few defenders of Adam McKay’s Vice because I feel like it was a misunderstood film. It wasn’t about sneering at folks who disagreed with Cheney’s jingoistic maneuvers. It was about power. How power is seized, used, protected. Regardless of political leaning, I think a lot of American citizens are unaware of how politicians use power in our country. It’s a cynical and nihilistic process, which we understand opaquely through the lens of media that’s either hopelessly partisan or compromised.
The book, which I think was one of the inspirations of the film, although not the basis of it, lays out the broad strokes of Cheney’s power grabs from his time in the Nixon and Ford administrations through the early parts of 2007. It’s told in a fractured, inconsistent manner, jumping from subject-to-subject at random. And, it was obviously rushed given its subject matter. But the beats that hit are really enlightening, particularly around Cheney’s time at Halliburton, his ability to freeze the press out of his maneuvers, and his manner of insulating himself from serious blowback. Sure, his approval ratings looked like the thermostat reading on the coldest day in the South Pole, pre-climate change, but he didn’t seem to care. Power is the game and he wielded it like a cudgel.
This was a most unwelcome trip down memory lane but it does function as a good entry level look at Dick Cheney. I’m not sure I have the energy to read more about said subject.
To which my reply was always: Yeah no. George Bush was awful. In many (not all) respects, he was worse than Trump. And one of the main reasons was Dick Cheney.
I’m one of the few defenders of Adam McKay’s Vice because I feel like it was a misunderstood film. It wasn’t about sneering at folks who disagreed with Cheney’s jingoistic maneuvers. It was about power. How power is seized, used, protected. Regardless of political leaning, I think a lot of American citizens are unaware of how politicians use power in our country. It’s a cynical and nihilistic process, which we understand opaquely through the lens of media that’s either hopelessly partisan or compromised.
The book, which I think was one of the inspirations of the film, although not the basis of it, lays out the broad strokes of Cheney’s power grabs from his time in the Nixon and Ford administrations through the early parts of 2007. It’s told in a fractured, inconsistent manner, jumping from subject-to-subject at random. And, it was obviously rushed given its subject matter. But the beats that hit are really enlightening, particularly around Cheney’s time at Halliburton, his ability to freeze the press out of his maneuvers, and his manner of insulating himself from serious blowback. Sure, his approval ratings looked like the thermostat reading on the coldest day in the South Pole, pre-climate change, but he didn’t seem to care. Power is the game and he wielded it like a cudgel.
This was a most unwelcome trip down memory lane but it does function as a good entry level look at Dick Cheney. I’m not sure I have the energy to read more about said subject.
June 3, 2019
I'd wanted to see the movie and when I saw the book listed I ordered a copy from the library. This book is well-documented and has all the information for a good story but unfortunately the authors don't seem aware of narrative nonfiction techniques. So many people are mentioned, so many details, why not spend more time and create something more readable? Good narrative nonfiction hooks a reader and pulls her in with story. Sadly it's not part of this book. I hope the movie is better than the book.
September 8, 2021
this book reminds us that Dick Cheney needs to be arrested for war crimes against humanity, and his involvement in the "Military-Industrial-Complex."
February 4, 2008
Great read. The Vice-President is definitely a silent but forceful politician
September 12, 2012
My namesake is a scary control freak!
Read
October 27, 2016Bit slow, was more subjective than I thought it would be initially.
April 7, 2017
Cheney's dark history is on full display.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews