Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House

Days of Fire presents an extensive examination of the George W. Bush presidency through the lens of his relationship with Vice President Dick Cheney. The book covers their eight years in office from 2001-2009, tracking the evolution of their partnership and decision-making during major events. Baker draws from hundreds of interviews with key players and previously unreleased documents to reconstruct the inner workings of the Bush White House. The narrative follows the administration's response to 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2008 financial crisis. The book details the dynamic between Bush and Cheney, from their early alliance to their later differences on key policy matters. Their partnership shaped critical moments in American history and influenced U.S. domestic and foreign policy for years to come. Days of Fire raises fundamental questions about executive power, leadership during crisis, and the relationship between presidents and their closest advisors. The book offers insight into how personality and ideology can impact governance at the highest levels.

Readers describe the book as an even-handed, detailed account of the Bush-Cheney relationship and their time in office. Many note Baker's neutral tone and extensive research based on interviews with key figures. Readers appreciated: - Clear breakdown of how Bush and Cheney's relationship evolved - Behind-the-scenes details about major decisions - Balanced treatment of both men's perspectives - Thorough documentation and sourcing Common criticisms: - Length (800+ pages) can be overwhelming - Too much minutiae about daily operations - Some readers wanted more analysis of policy impacts - Limited new revelations for those familiar with the administration Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) Sample reader quote: "Baker gives equal time to defenders and critics, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions rather than pushing an agenda." - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 Peter Baker interviewed more than 200 people for this book, including major players like Condoleezza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld, but both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney declined to participate directly. 🔹 Despite their later conflicts, Bush and Cheney had such a close working relationship early in the presidency that staffers referred to the vice president's office as "the subscript wing" of the White House. 🔹 The book reveals that Dick Cheney wrote a secret resignation letter shortly after taking office in 2001, due to his heart condition, and kept it in a safe throughout his vice presidency. 🔹 Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times and is married to Susan Glasser, another prominent political journalist who writes for The New Yorker. 🔹 The book's title "Days of Fire" refers not only to the events of 9/11 but also to a quote from Bush describing his presidency as "eight years of my life, eight years of our lives, that were uniquely historic and difficult and in many ways fires burning."