The Rise and Rise of Richard B. Cheney: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Most Powerful Vice President in American History

by John Nichols

Here is the definitive portrait of the ultimate power broker by "the toughest, most in-your-face investigative reporter in the U.S.A." (Greg Palast). Dick Cheney sets energy policy. He guided the nation into war with Iraq. And, working closely with Karl Rove, he oversees the political infrastructure that allows corporate interests and the religious right to control lawmaking, regulation, the selection of judges, and the development of foreign policy. As John Dean put it, "This page-turner closes the Cheney is our de facto president." With an emboldened administration that has turned a thin victory into a renewed mandate―rewarding ideologues and purging dissenters―John Nichols's question is more urgent than can this nation survive four more years of Dick Cheney? The Rise and Rise of Richard B. Cheney draws on groundbreaking reporting―including exclusive interviews with Cheney's college professors, Nelson Mandela, Gore Vidal, and political insiders.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

268 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2004

About the author

John Nichols (2 February 1745 – 26 November 1826) was an English printer, author and antiquary.

He is remembered as an influential editor of the Gentleman's Magazine for nearly 40 years; author of a monumental county history of Leicestershire; author of two compendia of biographical material relating to his literary contemporaries; and as one of the agents behind the first complete publication of Domesday Book in 1783.

His son, John Bowyer Nichols continued his father's various undertakings, and wrote, with other works, A Brief Account of the Guildhall of the City of London (1819).

John Gough Nichols (1806–73), John Bowyer Nichols's eldest son, was also a printer and a distinguished antiquary. He edited the Gentleman's Magazine from 1851 to 1856 and The Herald and Genealogist from 1863 to 1874, and was one of the founders of the Camden Society.

Reviews

[Will Byrnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cradle to (unfortunately not) grave look at the trickier one. It presents a picture of a devious character who lacks superior intellect, but manages to get himself into power by always being willing to take on the scut work at every level, then springing into action when opportunity presents. The author believes that while Cheney is a died-in-the-wool right-winger, he will always sacrifice right-wing principle whenever it comes into conflict with a desire for power. Scary stuff.

One of the major things he accomplished in his days as Defense Secretary was the privatization of much of the defense work normally done by the military itself. This created a constituency for continued big-spending. It was done, at least in part, to help ensure his power as the defense secretary in a second Bush (1) administration.

[Happy Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

poorly written, total garbage

[Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this before the film comes out. It’s a quick read. I found it fascinating.

[Karl H · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was like reading about the loch monster theory. Was Dick Cheney the Vice President Of the United States or President Of the United States?

[Kirra Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing really groundbreaking, but definitely confirms his evil.

[Smiley McGrouchpants Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody does it sleazier than Cheney — he's a piece of shit.

So.

(If you're wondering about Scalia's "doth protest too much" 22-page explanation for why he didn't have to recuse himself from sitting IN on a case involving Cheney — described in a SIDEBAR passage, the document is replete with Scalia's violin soloing-to-himself tendency, from being a big Opera fan, I guess 🤔 , and always wanting to get in the game and sing an Aria but never really having the guts, really, he's pulling some of that "Dancing with MYSELF" stuff Billy IDOL was talking about, Supreme Court Justices don't even have to recuse themselves, it's a privilege of the office like lifetime APPOINTMENT, applies to those nine only, but you won't read that here, you have to read it somewhere else, like I did, these people don't tell you anything ... and it's all your fault, of course!!!)

🙄

Sooooo ... since we know how hilarious these people are, dancing around the lip of the rim we couldn't even guess at, doesn't it stand to reason that the five (5) draft deferments Cheney got (as we learn about in Ishmael REED ... ) are for his own AMUSEMENT, and not even because he needed them, but for shits-and-GIGGLES, which was sure amusing to "Old Boys" like George W. BUSH, another draft-DODGER (or draft-evader, anyway ... 😡 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕 #fuckYOUgeorgeWBUSH 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕😬🖕 #fuckYOUUUUUU ) and (presumed-)attendee at those smoke-FILLED poker-card GAME parties that got Cheney thrown OUT of Yale (no less than his GRADES, which were less than stellar ... not that this stopped him from adopting the attitudes of a then-War-Hawk-ish professor [attitudes he SHEEPISHLY RECANTED some time later, I might add ... 🙄 #oyVEYthesePEEEEEEOPLE - ed.] which he didn't even understand very CLEARLY, at the time ... ) even while he didn't GET IN on his grades and his Legacy wasn't even a parent but just some guy, unrelated to him, who just said so ...

So.

😡

(Sick of it ... ?? Then read this book — )

The world's starting to look more and more like it's full of people who aren't about to "wise you UP."

It's like we're all Roger EBERT — sitting there while Gene SISKEL, who has histories in both Yale and working in Intelligence, is refusing to tell us anything ...

So!

Face the facts —

Amen.

#andHAILSATAN

🤘 🤪 👺

#SAAAAAATTTTAAAAAANNNN

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

#YEAH

👺

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want the truth about Mr. Cheney's background, then read this book. Your suspicions that Mr. Cheney is a draft-dodging fraud and hypocritical chicken hawk of the highest order are confirmed. The significant gaps in his education are exposed. His obsession with power and control, with secrecy and autocracy, is analyzed and documented. Mr. Cheney's unethical use of his authority as secretary of defense under Bush 41 to become CEO of Haliburton is revealed. The reader will be angered to learn (if he or she did not already know) that Cheney was receiving income from Haliburton and its subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root for government projects in Iraq following the American invasion, while serving as vice president under Bush 43. The author uses humor apparently hoping to ameliorate the reader's anger and disgust. I urge concerned Americans to read this book. Our country cannot afford characters like Mr. Cheney gaining power again.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's rather left-leaning, partisan bent, but how can one stay objective when discussing such a repulsive creature.

Gotta say, I love the fact that this book talks about Lynn Cheney's soft core lesbian novel published in the '70's.

I want to read that next!

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously a series of magazine article edited together, but good for me to read. Now I know what Eric Cartman from South Park is going to grow up to be.