Learning From the Angler

Critics listening to recollections by Bush administration officials about how swimmingly things have gone the past eight years must be wondering whether anyone on the inside bothers to read all those negative books, magazine pieces and news analyses the naysayers have written, or whether they're just happily ensconced in a cheery bubble.

Well, we know that one official, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, most assuredly does read the criticism. We even have proof, thanks to a tip from the Washington Note. An eagle-eyed source, taking a tour of the White House, spotted a photo of Cheney with a copy of "Angler," a book by our colleague Barton Gellman, opened on his desk. (The photo office rotates these pictures regularly, so it's no longer up.)

The photo indicates that Cheney indeed reads many books, even ones that trash him big-time. And it appears Cheney read the book right after it came out.

Seems Cheney talked about it when he spoke to the Young Presidents Organization, a group of up-and-coming biz execs, at a private event in September, according to a reliable source who was in the room. He even said it was a pretty good book and suggested they ought to go read it. But he noted that he certainly did not agree with everything in it. He particularly disagreed with the idea that the congressional leadership was not fully informed about, and on board with, the National Security Agency surveillance program -- until the story broke. Then they cut and ran, which he said is, unfortunately, a common problem with Congress when it comes to controversial but necessary programs.

Curiously, the book is being widely read on the Obama-Biden transition team, according to a senior member. The early chapters, especially on the Bush-Cheney transition and the beginning of the transition, appear to be getting start of the first term in 2001, are getting a lot of attention -- not only as a how-not-to but also as a how-to, a power map of the White House and the agencies.