Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency

Vice chronicles Dick Cheney's rise through American politics, from his early days in the Nixon and Ford administrations through his role as Vice President under George W. Bush. The book examines Cheney's methods for accumulating and wielding power during his decades in Washington. The narrative traces key moments and decisions throughout Cheney's career in both the public and private sectors, including his time as CEO of Halliburton and as Secretary of Defense. Bernstein draws on extensive research and interviews to document Cheney's influence on domestic and foreign policy, particularly in the aftermath of September 11th. Through detailed accounts of internal administration dynamics and policy battles, the book reveals the mechanisms through which a vice president came to exercise unprecedented authority. The authors make a case that Cheney's tenure marked a significant shift in the balance of executive power and the role of the vice presidency in American government. The work raises fundamental questions about constitutional checks and balances, and the concentration of power within the executive branch. These themes remain relevant to ongoing debates about presidential authority and democratic institutions.

Readers describe this as a detailed examination of Cheney's accumulation and exercise of power, backed by extensive research and documentation. Common praise: - Clear explanation of how Cheney expanded vice presidential authority - Well-sourced claims with extensive footnotes - Reveals lesser-known aspects of Cheney's business dealings and policy influence Common criticism: - Some readers found the tone too negative and accusatory - Several note it focuses more on criticism than balanced analysis - A few readers wanted more insight into Cheney's personal motivations Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (90+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Thorough documentation of Cheney's behind-the-scenes influence" - Amazon reviewer "Too much focus on painting him as a villain rather than understanding his worldview" - Goodreads review "Explains complex policy clearly but sometimes gets bogged down in details" - LibraryThing user

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🎯 Author Jake Bernstein won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011 for National Reporting, though for different work than this book. 🏛️ The book reveals that Dick Cheney maintained a secret resignation letter throughout his vice presidency due to his health concerns, signed and ready to be submitted at any moment. 📊 According to the book, Cheney's approval rating dropped from 63% in 2002 to just 20% by the end of his vice presidency—one of the steepest declines for any modern vice president. 🔍 While researching the book, Bernstein and co-author Lou Dubose conducted over 300 interviews and reviewed thousands of pages of government documents. 💼 The book details how Cheney uniquely expanded the power of the vice presidency by installing his allies throughout various government agencies and creating what some called a "shadow national security council."