This book lays bare a hidden agenda three decades in the making, one that links warrantless wiretapping and Bush's judicial nominees, torture and Cheney's energy task force, the faith-based initiative and the imprisonment of citizens without trial. In 1789, the Founders devised a system of checks and balances to keep kingly powers out of the hands of presidents. But in the 1970s and 80s, a faction of Republicans, outraged by the weakening of the presidency after Watergate and Vietnam, abandoned the traditional conservative suspicion of concentrated government power. These men hatched a plot that would allow the White House to wield enormous powers, operating behind a veil of secrecy, and unchecked by Congress or the courts. Today's [Bush] administration is bringing this project to fruition.--From publisher description.

Inside the bunker -- The fall of the imperial presidency and the rise of Dick Cheney, 1789-1976 -- "A cabal of zealots," 1977-2000 -- The agenda -- "Behind closed doors" : secrecy I -- The unleashing : laws and treaties I -- "A hollow shell" : secrecy II -- The perseverance and the purge : laws and treaties II -- The torture ban -- Power of the pen : signing statements -- "To say what the law is" : the Supreme Court -- Discipline and control : the Executive Branch -- The politics of presidential power.