There was a turning point in Cheney’s career, in which his view of executive power was altered. While some people look at September 11, 2001, as a defining and transitional moment in Cheney’s understanding of the presidential powers, I think it all began around September 8, 1974. As a young man, his worldview was substantially changed when President Ford pardoned Nixon. Over the next several decades, Cheney’s understanding of executive power changed. In this episode, we will look at three presidential pardoning cases in which Cheney was involved. Each case will give us a glimpse into the mind of a rather elusive vice president.
