(Feb. 17) - The relationship between former Vice President Dick Cheney and former President Bush has apparently soured. Why? Cheney is reportedly "furious" that Bush declined to pardon Scooter Libby, the vice president's one-time chief of staff, who was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's name.
That leak of Valerie Plame's name and a subsequent investigation into who was behind it proved to be an embarrassing scandal for the Bush administration, and the case is recapped in the gallery below.
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As for the latest wrinkle in this case, Bush had already commuted Libby's 30-month prison sentence, but that wasn't enough for Cheney, according to an account in New York's Daily News. Cheney lobbied Bush hard in the waning days of the Bush White House, so exasperating Bush that he told aides he was through discussing the matter.
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The Bush-Cheney relationship has long been the source of speculation and fascination. As far back as 2005, there were reports -- like this one from the International Herald Tribune -- of friction between the Bush and Cheney as public opinion turned against the Iraq war and the president's poll numbers tanked.
In 2007, The Washington Post published a lengthy article examining Cheney's influential role within the White House, describing his "unrivaled portfolio across the executive branch."
Last month, Cheney granted an interview to CBS Radio in which he insisted his influence within the administration has been exaggerated, calling it an "urban legend." Our bloggers Dylan and Ethan Ris have details from that interview.
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