Days of Fire

1. A Partnership Forged in Ambition and Shaped by the West

Bush in those days was a really interesting guy…A little insecure, had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Very skeptical of everything in Washington, something I think he retained.

Western Roots. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, despite their different backgrounds, shared a common Western upbringing that instilled in them a sense of self-reliance, a conservative ethos, and a skepticism towards the East Coast establishment. Bush, raised in the Texas oil fields, and Cheney, growing up in Wyoming, both developed a strong sense of American identity rooted in the frontier spirit.

Contrasting Personalities. Bush was outgoing, charismatic, and known for his folksy charm, while Cheney was reserved, analytical, and possessed a deep understanding of the intricacies of government. Bush, the son of a political dynasty, initially struggled to find his own path, while Cheney, a self-made man, rose through the ranks of Washington power through sheer competence and strategic acumen.

Early Encounters. Their paths first crossed in 1987 when Bush, then a surrogate for his father's presidential campaign, met with Cheney, a low-key congressman from Wyoming. Though neither man remembered the meeting, it marked the beginning of a relationship that would profoundly shape American history.

2. The Crucible of Power: Defining Moments in the Ford White House

“Fuck the war,” he declared.

Formative Years. Cheney's time in the Ford White House, particularly his role as Chief of Staff, proved formative to his governing philosophy. He witnessed the erosion of presidential authority in the wake of Watergate and Vietnam, fueling his determination to protect the prerogatives of the executive branch.

Clash of Ideologies. Cheney's conservative streak often put him at odds with moderates like Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He actively worked to bury Rockefeller's activist-government ideas and pushed Ford to take a harder line against the Soviet Union.

Early Ambition. Despite his low-key demeanor, Cheney harbored strong ambitions and a willingness to make tough decisions. He and Rumsfeld drafted a blistering memo urging Ford to shake up his team and even offered their own resignations to clear the way.

3. Ambition Realized: From Congressional Aspirations to National Influence

To be where the action is. I just truly get a buzz out of the policy side of all this stuff.

Navigating the Political Landscape. After Ford's defeat, both Bush and Cheney set their sights on Congress, but only Cheney succeeded. Bush's loss in a 1978 House race taught him a valuable lesson about connecting with voters on a personal level, while Cheney's victory marked the beginning of his ascent in Republican politics.

Conservative Principles. Cheney quickly established himself as a staunch conservative in Congress, compiling a voting record that reflected his strong belief in limited government, free markets, and a robust national defense. He became a key player in the Reagan era, advocating for tax cuts, school prayer, and a strong stance against communism.

Doomsday Scenarios. Cheney's participation in secret continuity-of-government exercises during the Reagan administration reinforced his views about the need for a strong executive branch and a clear chain of command in the face of catastrophic threats. These experiences would later shape his approach to national security in the Bush White House.

4. The Rise of a Dynasty: Bush's Ascent and Cheney's Corporate Interlude

I’m all name and no money.

Finding His Way. While Cheney rose through the ranks in Washington, Bush struggled to find his footing in the Texas oil business. He battled alcoholism, launched unsuccessful ventures, and lived in the shadow of his accomplished father.

A Turning Point. Bush's decision to quit drinking marked a turning point in his life, instilling in him a newfound discipline and determination. He embraced religion, conquered his demons, and began to channel his energy into more productive pursuits.

Baseball and Politics. Bush's purchase of the Texas Rangers baseball team proved to be a pivotal moment in his political career. It gave him a public platform, a chance to connect with voters, and a reputation as a successful leader.

5. A President Forged in Crisis: The Defining Days of 9/11

If you graduate from Yale, you become president. If you drop out, you get to be vice president.

A Nation Under Attack. The September 11 attacks tested Bush and Cheney in ways they could never have imagined. The attacks transformed Bush's presidency, shifting his focus from domestic policy to national security and setting the stage for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Cheney's Response. Cheney, drawing on his experience in continuity-of-government exercises, took charge in the White House bunker, coordinating the government's response and ensuring the survival of the executive branch. His actions in those chaotic hours solidified his reputation as a steady hand in times of crisis.

Bush's Transformation. The attacks also transformed Bush, instilling in him a sense of purpose and a determination to protect the country at all costs. He embraced a more assertive and interventionist foreign policy, guided by a belief in American exceptionalism and the need to confront evil.

6. The Decider: Bush's Assertive Leadership and the Road to War

The president needs to be effective, especially in a national security area.

The Bush Doctrine. The Bush administration's response to 9/11 led to the development of the Bush Doctrine, which asserted the right of the United States to act preemptively against perceived threats, even without international support. This doctrine would be used to justify the invasion of Iraq.

Cheney's Influence. Cheney played a key role in shaping the Bush Doctrine and advocating for the invasion of Iraq. He expertly employed a network of loyalists placed strategically throughout the government. He pressed, and even badgered, an inexperienced president to go after Saddam Hussein in Iraq over any reservations Bush might have harbored.

The Case for War. The Bush administration argued that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, had ties to al-Qaeda, and posed a grave threat to the United States and its allies. These claims, though later proven false, were used to build public and international support for the war.

7. The Fog of War: Navigating the Complexities of Iraq

How many additional American casualties is Saddam worth? And the answer is not very damned many.

The Invasion of Iraq. Despite initial success in toppling Saddam Hussein's regime, the invasion of Iraq unleashed a wave of unintended consequences, including a bloody insurgency, sectarian violence, and the rise of al-Qaeda in Iraq. The failure to find weapons of mass destruction undermined the administration's credibility and fueled criticism of the war.

Cheney's Unwavering Belief. Even as the situation in Iraq deteriorated, Cheney remained steadfast in his belief that the war was justified and that the United States would ultimately prevail. He resisted calls for a change in strategy and defended the administration's actions at every turn.

The Cost of War. The Iraq War took a heavy toll on the United States, both in terms of human lives and financial resources. It also damaged America's moral authority, strained alliances, and contributed to the rise of anti-American sentiment around the world.

8. A Shifting Landscape: Domestic Battles and Foreign Policy Realities

We had broken a lot of china. But at that point, you have to leave something in place.

Compassionate Conservatism. As the Iraq War dragged on, Bush sought to rebrand his presidency with a focus on "compassionate conservatism," emphasizing social programs and bipartisan cooperation. However, his efforts were often undermined by the deep divisions within his own administration and the growing polarization of American politics.

The Rise of Condoleezza Rice. Frustrated by the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and the crescendo of violence that greeted the “liberators,” unhappy to find the United States isolated from its allies, and eager for breakthroughs that would shape his legacy, Bush increasingly turned not to his vice president but to Condoleezza Rice, who as secretary of state supplanted Cheney as the president’s most influential lieutenant.

Cheney's Diminishing Influence. By the second term, Cheney had grown increasingly marginalized, as Bush sought new paths to right his presidency and no longer paid as much heed to his vice president on everything from North Korea to gun rights. Cheney became alienated sitting in his West Wing office watching their efforts in his view run off course, undermining much of what he had accomplished.

9. The Price of Power: Personal Sacrifices and Political Repercussions

You are leaving a good man wounded on the field of battle.

The Scooter Libby Affair. The prosecution and conviction of Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, became a major distraction for the White House and a source of deep personal pain for the vice president. Cheney viewed Libby as a loyal soldier who had been unfairly targeted by an unprincipled prosecutor.

Cheney's Isolation. Cheney's unwavering defense of Libby and his controversial policies further isolated him from the rest of the administration and contributed to his growing unpopularity. His fight for Libby was in a sense, then, a fight for redemption from a president who had turned away from him.

The Pardon Debate. The final break between Bush and Cheney came over the president's refusal to pardon Libby. Cheney viewed it as a betrayal of a loyal servant and a missed opportunity to validate their extraordinary tandem.

10. Legacies Forged and Futures Uncertain: The End of an Era

There is no middle ground.

A Divided Legacy. The Bush-Cheney administration left behind a complex and deeply consequential legacy. They lifted a nation wounded by sneak attack on September 11, 2001, and safeguarded it from further assault, putting in place a new national security architecture for a dangerous era that would endure after they left office. At home, they instituted sweeping changes in education, health care, and taxes while heading off another Great Depression and the collapse of the storied auto industry. Abroad, they liberated fifty million people from despotic governments in the Middle East and central Asia, gave voice to the aspirations of democracy around the world, and helped turn the tide against a killer disease in Africa.

The Unpopular President and Vice President. Yet for all that, their misjudgments and misadventures left them the most unpopular president and vice president in generations. They had unwittingly unleashed forces that led to the deaths of perhaps a hundred thousand Iraqis while squandering America’s moral authority, failing to rescue a great American city from a biblical flood, presiding over the worst financial crisis in eight decades, and leaving behind a fiscal mess that would hobble the country for years.

A Final Disagreement. Their final hours together would be consumed by their private argument over the pardon underscores the distance the two men had traveled. Theirs is a story that may seem familiar on the surface, but in fact the real tale of Bush and Cheney and their eight years together is far more complicated than the simplistic narrative that developed over time.

Last updated: March 3, 2025