Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney objected to Barr giving Bush political advice. “Cheney said, ‘You’re giving him political advice, not legal advice,’” Barr recalled. “I said, ‘No, I’m giving him both political and legal advice. They’re really sort of together when you get to this level.’” Barr exhibited traits he would show again when he served in the Trump administration—boldness and a willingness to mix politics with legal opinions. After Bush and his aides convinced Congress to pass a bipartisan
