Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency

The Story

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Barton Gellmans newsbreaking investigative journalism documents how Vice President Dick Cheney redefined the role of the American vice presidency, assuming unprecedented responsibilities and making it a post of historic power. Dick Cheney changed history, defining his times and shaping a White House as no vice president has before yet concealing most of his work from public view. Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Postreporter Barton Gellman parts the curtains of secrecy to show how Cheney operated, why, and what he wrought. Angler, Gellmans embargoed and highly explosive book, is a work of careful, concrete, and original reporting backed by hundreds of interviews with close Cheney allies as well as rivals, many speaking candidly on the record for the first time. On the signature issues of war and peace, Anglertakes readers behind the scenes as Cheney maneuvers for dominance on what he calls the iron issues from Iraq, Iran, and North Korea to executive supremacy, interrogation of Al Qaeda suspects, and domestic espionage. Gellman explores the behind-the- scenes story of Cheneys tremendous influence on foreign policy, exposing how he misled the four ranking members of Congress with faulty intelligence on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, how he derailed Bush from venturing into Israeli- Palestinian peace talks for nearly five years, and how his policy left North Korea and Iran free to make major advances in their nuclear programs. Domestically, Gellman details Cheneys role as super Chief of Staff , enforcer of conservative orthodoxy; gatekeeper of Supreme Court nominees; referee of Cabinet turf; editor of tax and budget laws; and regulator in chief of the administrations environment policy. We watch as Cheney, the ultimate Washington insider, leverages hisinfluence within the Bush administration in order to implement his policy goals. Gellmans discoveries will surprise even the most astute students of political science. Above all, Angleris a study of the inner workings of the Bush administration and the vice presidents central role as the administrations canniest power player. Gellman exposes the mechanics of Cheneys largely successful post-September 11 campaign to win unchecked power for the commander in chief, and reflects upon, and perhaps changes, the legacy that Cheneyand the Bush administration as a wholewill leave as they exit office.