Dick Cheney, The Magic Man
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 5:29 PM
Friends + Interlocutors,
Dick Cheney has left the stage. With the possible exception of Xi Jinping, Dick Cheney is the most important government official of the 21st century. He alone became Prez of the U.S. without being elected. I mean de facto POTUS. I called it the Cheney Regency, and wrote about it extensively.
I had nothing good to say about his policies. But he was an amazing administrator and advocate for what he wanted. And a smooth, convincing talker. Who was it that called Cheney “the magic man”? I forget just now. His working control over the USG was complete under Bush Jr., who played the part of a front man.
Here’s a sample of my Cheney polemics...
Patrick
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P.S. AI overview:
The nickname "
the magic man" for Dick Cheney originated from the description used by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan in his 2008 book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception.According to McClellan, the nickname referred to Cheney's ability to steer policy behind the scenes while leaving no fingerprints. McClellan suggested that Cheney often seemed to get his way on significant issues and was adept at avoiding direct blame or having his involvement publicly traced, much like a "magic man" operating outside of public view. The description was part of a broader critique of the Bush administration's decision-making process, particularly regarding the Iraq War.
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