Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning

by Liz Cheney

Elected officials who believe their own political survival is more important than anything else threaten the survival of our republic, no matter what they tell themselves to justify their cowardice.

McCarthy appeared to be dealing in reality. This made it all the more surprising when I saw his appearance on Fox News just a few hours later: “President Trump won this election,” Kevin proclaimed, “so everyone who is listening, do not be quiet! Do not be silent about this! We cannot allow this to happen before our very eyes.” McCarthy knew that what he was saying was not true.

Kevin McCarthy sometimes had Trump dialed in, secretly listening to our discussions. Kevin didn’t inform the entire conference when Trump had joined a call unless Trump planned to speak, but it wasn’t difficult to tell when Trump was listening in. When certain members were particularly lavish in their praise for Trump, I suspected that Kevin had alerted them we had a presidential eavesdropper.

Jordan was not interested in understanding or discussing the rules. He didn’t seem to think the rules mattered. “The only thing that matters,” Jordan said, “is winning.”

No lame-duck president focused on securing the nation would replace his top civilian leaders at DOD days after losing an election. Yet that’s what Trump was doing.

Douglas MacGregor, a retired colonel who regularly spreads pro-Putin propaganda on American airwaves, was named senior adviser to the secretary of defense.

I believe that Donald Trump’s decision to attack the lawfully certified Electoral College results and to ignore the rulings of our courts was an assault on the structural constitutional safeguards that keep us free.

The simple conclusion: Congress does not have the authority to undo an election by refusing to count state-certified electoral votes. Period.

A frightened Kevin McCarthy had begged President Trump to stop the violence. When that didn’t work, he had appealed to Trump’s adult children, also begging for their help. None of those efforts succeeded.

We’re debating a step that has never been taken in American history, whether Congress should overrule the voters and overturn a presidential election.… The Constitution gives us here in Congress a limited role. We cannot simply declare ourselves a national board of elections on steroids. The voters, the courts, and the states have all spoken. If we overrule them all, it would damage our republic forever… If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral…. I will not pretend such a vote would be a harmless protest gesture while relying on others to do the right thing. I will vote to respect the people’s decision and defend our system of government as we know it.

Terrorists couldn’t shake the foundations of our republic, but what if an American president refused to guarantee the peaceful transition of power? What if he attempted to overturn an election in order to stay in power, ignored the rulings of the courts, mobilized a violent mob, and provoked them to attack and invade the Capitol? An American president willing to do those things was a threat unlike any we had ever faced before—a direct threat to the foundations of our republic.

And I come to this choice as a person of faith, as someone who believes deeply that our rights come from God, not from the government. And always mindful that we must pray as though everything depends upon God, because it does. And we must work as though everything depends upon us, because it does.

Donald Trump had access to more detailed and specific information showing that the election was not actually stolen than almost any other American. And he was told this over and over again. No rational or sane man in his position could disregard that information and reach the opposite conclusion.

let us resolve that we will stand together—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents—against those who would destroy our republic. They are angry and they are determined, but they have not seen anything like the power of Americans united in defense of our Constitution and committed to the cause of freedom. There is no greater power on this earth. And with God’s help, we will prevail.

Despite the policy differences between the two men, President Ford assured Carter that he would have Ford’s “complete and wholehearted support” as he took the oath of office. Ford also pledged that he and all members of his administration would do everything they could to ensure Carter began his term “as smoothly and effectively as possible.” Gerald Ford’s statement ended, “May God bless you and your family as you undertake your new responsibilities.” One leader ceding power to the next, gracious in defeat, pledging unity for the good of the nation—that is what is required by fidelity to the Constitution and love of country. We depend upon the goodwill of our leaders and their dedication to duty to ensure the survival of our republic. Only a man unacquainted with honor, courage, and character would see weakness in this.

In November 1800, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, after he had spent his first night in the White House. His letter included a prayer, which is now inscribed above the fireplace in the White House state dining room. It reads, in part, “May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” Adams knew that the character of our leaders mattered.

If Trump is on the ballot, the 2024 presidential election will not just be about inflation, or budget deficits, or national security, or any of the many critical issues we Americans normally face. We will be voting on whether to preserve our republic. As a nation, we can endure damaging policies for a four-year term. But we cannot survive a president willing to terminate our Constitution.