Issue Date: February 27-March 5, 2006, Posted On: 2/27/2006 Cheney seen retiring after midterm elections Vice President Dick Cheney and President Bush on Feb. 22 (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to retire within a year. Senior GOP sources envision the retirement of Mr. Cheney in 2007, months after the congressional elections. The sources said Mr. Cheney would be persuaded to step down as he becomes an increasing political liability to President Bush. The sources reported a growing rift between the president and vice president as well as their staffs. They cited Mr. Cheney's failure to immediately tell the president of the accidental shooting of the vice president's hunting colleague earlier this month. The White House didn't learn of the incident until 18 hours later. Mr. Cheney's next crisis could take place by the end of the year, the sources said. They said the White House was expecting Mr. Cheney to defend himself against charges from his former chief of staff, Lewis Libby, that the vice president ordered him to relay classified information. Such a charge could lead to a congressional investigation and even impeachment proceedings. "Nothing will happen until after the congressional elections," a GOP source said. "After that, there will be significant changes in the administration and Cheney will probably be part of that." Already, senators expect Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald to investigate whether Mr. Cheney authorized Mr. Libby to divulge classified material. Mr. Libby has told a grand jury that unnamed "superiors" directed him to relay the content of a National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq in July 2003. "I don't think anybody should be releasing classified information, period, whether in the Congress, executive branch or some underling in some bureaucracy," said Sen. George Allen, Virginia Republican. The sources said the accidental shooting highlighted the lack of communications between Bush and Cheney staffers. They said at one point, the president held what was termed a private conversation with Mr. Cheney regarding the Feb. 11 incident. Hours later, Mr. Cheney, who kept away from reporters, explained the incident in an interview with Fox News on Feb. 15. "Nobody on the president's staff could get to Cheney, let alone tell him what to do," the source said. "At that point, the president picked up the phone and suggested that Cheney get his story out fast." The sources said Mr. Cheney, 65, has been struggling with the departure of his closest aides. In addition to Mr. Libby, Mr. Cheney's media adviser, Steve Schmidt, has left to manage the re-election campaign of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr. Bush, the sources said, has rejected the advice from circles close to his father, the former president, to dismiss Mr. Cheney. They say Mr. Bush has long regarded Mr. Cheney as the experienced hand in national security, as well as being trusted by the conservative wing of the Republican Party. "The Libby case is far more lethal than the hunting accident," another GOP source said. "If the heat gets too much, Cheney might say his health requires him to leave office. Whatever happens, the president will make sure it's handled delicately." http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/cheney3.htm
Another liberal fantasy. Cheney is not a quitter. He would look like an idiot if the President forced him out, and he would know his enemies would leak the story that he had been canned. In fact, there is not a thing the president can do other than ask him politely to resign. He has no constitutional authority to dismiss the VP, like he was a staffer. Among conservatives, Cheney is far more respected than Bush. This story might be a trial balloon from Karl Rove, and it might end up looking like another Harriet Miers fiasco. Perhaps he is trying to deflect attention from the port deal catastrophy.
AAA, I bet there's plenty of Republicans out there raising an eyebrow to that story though. Anyway - here's a piece on what would happen if anyone is interested. According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1792, the Senate president pro tempore1 was next in line after the vice president to succeed to the presidency, followed by the Speaker of the House. In 1886, however, Congress changed the order of presidential succession, replacing the president pro tempore and the Speaker with the cabinet officers. Proponents of this change argued that the congressional leaders lacked executive experience, and none had served as president, while six former secretaries of state had later been elected to that office. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947, signed by President Harry Truman, changed the order again to what it is today. The cabinet members are ordered in the line of succession according to the date their offices were established. Prior to the ratification of the 25th Amendment in 1967, there was no provision for filling a vacancy in the vice presidency. When a president died in office, the vice president succeeded him, and the vice presidency then remained vacant. The first vice president to take office under the new procedure was Gerald Ford, who was nominated by Nixon on Oct. 12, 1973, and confirmed by Congress the following Dec. 6. The Vice President Richard Cheney Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert President pro tempore of the Senate1 Ted Stevens Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Secretary of the Treasury John Snow Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez2 Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao3 Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson Secretary of Transportation Norman Yoshio Mineta Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson Secretary of Homeland Security4 Michael Chertoff NOTE: An official cannot succeed to the Presidency unless that person meets the Constitutional requirements. 1. The president pro tempore presides over the Senate when the vice president is absent. By tradition the position is held by the senior member of the majority party. 2. Carlos Gutierrez was born in Cuba and is ineligible. 3. Elaine Chao was born in Taiwan and is ineligible. 4. In late July 2005, the Senate passed a bill moving the Homeland Security secretary to number 8 on the list. The bill is awaiting House approval.
I am not sure the rules of succession apply. I am pretty sure since the President is around, he gets to appoint a VP. Does anyone know if Congress has to approve of the appointment. I do not feel like googling.
I can see Dickie retiring easily, especially if there is some dirt that is going to eventually come out. This would also be a perfect time for Bush and the republicans to pick a successor to Bush to run in 2008.
I'm wrong on above. Jem you have it right. I Under the 25th amendment, whenever there is a vacancy in the office of Vice President of the United States, the President nominates a successor, who is confirmed by the majority vote of both houses of Congress. Succession only fills Presidency and a President AND VP who are not able to serve it looks like. Wonder who would cast vote in a Senate tie.
Nixon got to pick Gerald Ford after Spiro T Agnew was forced to resign over allegations of corruption when he was Governor of Maryland. This was in the early '70's. Ford then became President after Nixon resigned and then lost in the '76 election to Carter, who was the absolute worst President of the 20th century....a good man, but a horrible leader. The 25th amendment gives the President the power to appoint a new VP.
if Dick steps down.. the pres should outsource the VP job to the highest bidding nation imo.. would be just perfect...