Dick Cheney: Most Corrupt Vice President in US History?

The Rise and Early Career of Dick Cheney [00:06]

• Dick Cheney's career is marked by a debate over term limits for federal officials due to concerns about corruption and the wealth accumulated by career politicians.
• Many politicians are accused of profiting from insider knowledge, gaining access to critical corporate and government information.
• Cheney was born in 1941 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and grew up in Casper, Wyoming.
• He attended Yale but did not graduate, and faced multiple Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) convictions in his early 20s, which he stated prompted self-reflection.
• He later earned bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from the University of Wyoming.
• Cheney moved to Washington D.C. in 1968 and served in the Nixon and Ford administrations, becoming Chief of Staff to President Ford.
• He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Wyoming in 1978, serving six terms and taking conservative stances on various issues.

"Cheney said that the arrest made him think about where I was and where I was headed I was headed down a bad road if I continued on that course"

Congressional Record and Foreign Policy Stances [02:54]

• During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Cheney voted against the creation of the U.S. Department of Education, citing concerns over budget deficits and federal government expansion.
• He also voted against funding for Head Start but later reversed this position.
• In 1978, he voted against establishing a national holiday for Martin Luther King Jr., a stance he changed in 1983.
• Cheney endorsed Ronald Reagan for President in 1980.
• He voted against overriding President Reagan's veto of sanctions against South Africa in 1986, stating sanctions "almost never work."
• Cheney was among those who voted against a resolution calling for Nelson Mandela's release from prison, citing the ANC's view as a terrorist organization and its perceived anti-U.S. interests.

"he opposed the resolution because the ANC at the time was viewed as a terrorist organization and had a number number of interest that were fundamentally enemal to the United States"

Secretary of Defense and Gulf War Operations [04:35]

• As Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush (1989-1993), Cheney oversaw a downsizing of the military, with budgets showing negative real growth.
• Total defense spending decreased from $291 billion to $270 billion in adjusted currency, and military personnel decreased by 19%.
• Saudi Arabia allowed U.S. troops and aircraft bases, crucial for the success of the 1991 Gulf War.
• Cheney led the U.S. campaign to remove Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega from power following the disputed 1989 elections.
• The U.S. invasion of Panama began after a U.S. serviceman was killed, and Noriega was wanted on drug charges.
• The mission was successful, with Endara assuming the presidency and Noriega convicted and imprisoned.

"given the rising tensions in the Middle East the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allowed bases for US troops and aircraft which was critical to the success of the coming Gulf War"

Vice Presidency and Halliburton's Ascent [06:17]

• As Vice President under George W. Bush (2001-2009), Cheney influenced energy and Middle East foreign policy.
• He was a major shareholder in the Halliburton company.
• Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Cheney oversaw the UN Coalition deployment and victory in the Gulf War.
• After the 1992 election loss, Cheney became a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and later CEO of Halliburton from 1995 to 2000.
• Questions arose regarding Halliburton's practices, including a subsidiary (Brown & Root) overcharging the government on a conversion contract.
• Despite resigning as CEO upon becoming VP, Cheney retained a financial stake in Halliburton.

"this was where questions began to arise"

Scrutiny of Halliburton and the LOGCAP Contract [07:54]

• Cheney's record as CEO of Halliburton came under scrutiny, with the SEC investigating the 1998 merger with Dresser Industries due to accounting transparency concerns.
• Halliburton's subsidiary, Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), received the LOGCAP contract in 2001, worth over $31 billion, as a no-bid award.
• Government auditors complained about KBR's refusal to provide data in its native format and stamping documents as proprietary.
• Cheney played a central role in presenting intelligence reports that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), which were used to initiate the Iraq War.
• Despite a classified briefing indicating no evidence linking Saddam Hussein to 9/11 or significant ties to Al-Qaeda, Cheney continued to assert such links.

"the contract was worth more than $31 billion and it was a no bid award which violated Federal procurement law"

Post-Invasion Contracts and Accusations [10:26]

• Following Saddam Hussein's fall, Halliburton secured lucrative no-bid reconstruction contracts.
• Cheney was criticized for supporting NSA wiretapping and the U.S. enhanced interrogation program.
• His political life remained tied to Halliburton's financial success, with the company continuing to secure no-bid contracts.
• Critics accused Cheney of not disclosing his personal and financial involvement with Halliburton while formulating energy policy.
• In 2005, a Halliburton whistleblower reported irregularities and illegal practices to the SEC, though the company ultimately paid the whistleblower's legal fees, and Halliburton faced no penalties.
• Halliburton shareholders filed a class-action lawsuit alleging artificially inflated stock prices, though Cheney was not an individual defendant.

"in essence halberton and KBR paid bribes to high ranking Nigerian government officials between 1994 and 2004"

Legal Battles and International Bribery Allegations [13:35]

• In 2010, the U.S. Justice Department filed a civil fraud case against KBR over the use of private security forces in Iraq, alleging they charged the government for services not allowed under the LOGCAP contract, totaling over $99 million.
• The Supreme Court allowed the case to continue in 2011.
• In December 2010, Cheney was named in a corruption complaint by the Nigerian government against Halliburton, which the company settled for $250 million.
• The GAO issued a report indicating dishonest contracting in Iraq, with Halliburton and KBR overbilling and illegally awarded tasks.
• Halliburton was given a no-competition bid for a $7 billion oil infrastructure contract.
• The Defense Contract Audit Agency found $553 million in payments to KBR that should be disallowed.

"basically America's war on terrorism created a windfall for KBR and halberton under its log cap contract deal with the Pentagon"

Global Bribery Schemes and Settlements [17:00]

• The SEC charged Halliburton with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by making payments to a local company in Angola to obtain oil field contracts, essentially bribes.
• Nigeria lost out on billions from the Halliburton scandal, while in the U.S., some individuals were investigated and convicted.
• Halliburton settled the bribery case with the U.S. Department of Justice for $382 million.
• Halliburton's former vice president, Janat Lawrence, agreed to a $75,000 penalty for causing company violations.
• In 2010, Nigeria indicted Dick Cheney, then CEO of Halliburton, in connection with the bribery scandal, but he was later cleared when Halliburton worked out a $35 million settlement.
• British lawyer Jeffrey Tesler admitted to planning bribe payments starting in 1994, involving millions of dollars through Switzerland and offshore tax havens to secure contracts for Halliburton's subsidiary, KBR.

"halberton also agreed to obtain an independent compliance consultant to oversee its anti-corruption policies and procedures in Africa primarily referring to the case in Angola"

Final Years and Accountability [21:16]

• Despite his legacy being tarnished by scandal, Cheney underwent heart surgery and a transplant.
• He co-authored his memoir "In My Time" with his daughter Liz Cheney, published in 2011.
• Another book, "Heart: An American Medical Odyssey," was published in 2013.
• Dick Cheney was never held personally accountable for any of his alleged dealings while in office.
• Halliburton, the company he chaired and remained a major shareholder in, is alleged to have illegally made billions and bribed officials.
• Dick Cheney's net worth is estimated at $150 million, accumulated from his various high-level government positions and his involvement with Halliburton.

"Dick Cheney was never held personally accountable for any of his Shady dealings while holding elected and appointed office"