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The Great Rift: Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, and the Broken Friendship That Defined an Era Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

James Mann (Author), Joe Barrett (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 58 ratings
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Dick Cheney and Colin Powell emerged on the national scene more than 30 years ago, and it is easy to forget that they were once allies. It was Cheney who pressed for Powell's appointment as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, over the initial skepticism of the White House. And the two men collaborated closely in the successful American wars in Panama and Iraq during the George H. W. Bush administration.

But from that pinnacle, conflicts of ideology and sensibility drove Cheney and Powell apart. Under George W. Bush, they fell into ever-deepening conflict. Cheney personified the idea that America should use its unrivaled power to reorder the world, using military force and ignoring objections from its longstanding allies. Powell believed that the United States should operate through diplomacy as much as possible, relying on the alliances it had forged.

In this wide-ranging and deeply researched reassessment of these two major figures, James Mann explores each man's biography and philosophical predispositions to show how and why this deep and permanent rupture occurred. Through dozens of original interviews and surprising revelations from presidential archives, he brings to life the very human story of how this influential friendship turned so sour and how their enmity colored the way America acts in the world.

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  1. Listening Length
    13 hours and 8 minutes
  2. Author
    James Mann
  3. Narrator
    Joe Barrett
  4. Audible release date
    January 14, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  7. ASIN
    B0833BW4Y6
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 13 hours and 8 minutes
Author James Mann
Narrator Joe Barrett
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 14, 2020
Publisher Tantor Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0833BW4Y6
Best Sellers Rank #263,366 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#233 in National & International Security (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,714 in National & International Security (Books)
#1,725 in Biographies of Politicians

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4.5 out of 5 stars
58 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • JamesMN
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a terrific read for me. I lived through this "Era" and paid close attention to it. On the one hand the book affirmed my belief that Cheney is a criminal - however much anyone may ascribe his intentions as good he never took account of what he wrought, never took responsibility for what is clearly a mistake with regard to our involvement in Iraq and how we got there and planned for it, and it's any wonder how many lives he was responsible for negatively affecting or losing due to his arrogance and war lust - the ultimate chickenhawk, along with a number of his cronies. And how much treasur, in lives and gold, has been squandered due to this war, and while Bush was president, and surely he was the "decider", this book makes clear what anyone who's followed this chapter in our history already knows, it was Cheney and Rumsfeld who got us to where we're at now with regard to this fiasco.

    Powell is scorched by this, too, and it's interesting to see how two men who considered themselves friends, who could literally finish each other's sentences at one point in their relationship, could diverge, or have a "rift" to the degree that they did. Did they REALLY know each other as well as they seemed to think? Likely not, and with them both in very different places now it's hard to see how they ever really shared that much from the start.

    Not sure that this covers much in the way of new ground, but as I said for me it was gripping. We're dealing with a very different world now and Cheney and Powell seem removed from that, but I think this helps one understand how we got to where we're at, in particular with regard to the bog of our Iraq involvement, and provides insight into how the gears of government work in DC, or don't work as the case may be.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cheney- a dark, committed person; Powell- an honorable soldier
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I did not realized the long term relationship between Dick Cheney and Colin Powell. The author tells us how they had an initial close relationship in the US government and then it went south, especially with the invasion of Iraq. I learned more about Cheney and how he functioned in US government. I would not agree with his decisions or methods. I have always admired Colin Powell and I admire him even more now.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Carl Ford
    5.0 out of 5 stars "The Great Rift" is another must read from James Mann!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    "The Great Rift" is yet another page turner from Jim Mann, the world's expert on this period in American political history. He knows the main characters personally and has interviewed virtually all of them. For those of us who have worked with both Cheney and Powell Jim's insights into these two great men ring true. As a bonus you receive a primer on how national security and foreign policy are really made. If you are interested in post-Cold War American politics "The Great Rift" is a must read!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • dreaminblu6
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quality and arrival time
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Arrived in time for Christmas, quality of book seems well made. Would buy from this seller again.
    One person found this helpful
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  • David Southworth
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Tale of Friendship and Deceit
    Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2023
    This book traces the relationship between Dick Cheney and Colin Powell, from the beginning of their relationship when Cheney was Secretary of Defense and Powell was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, through their time in the George W Bush administration, and the collapse of the relationship following the 2003 Iraq invasion fiasco. The interactions between the two, especially during the first Persian Gulf War, seemed to be generally positive. The two complimented each other, with Cheney being the competent manager and Powell being good at public relations. But by the time of the second invasion of Iraq, with Cheney as vice president and Powell now as secretary of state, the accord between the two shattered. The cause of that was what Powell perceived to be Cheney’s scapegoating of him over the early days of the invasion after already forcing Powell’s hand by making him be at the forefront of selling the war to the American people and the international community, most especially at the infamous February 2003 presentation to the United Nations Security Council. By the end, relations had turned bitter and acrimonious.
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  • Montzalee Wittmann
    4.0 out of 5 stars Easy style to understand!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2020
    The Great Rift: Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, and the Broken Friendship That Defined an Era by James Mann is a book I requested and the review is voluntary. I learned a lot about both men in this book. I did have a 'rock star' view of Colin Powell until he lied about the pictures but I found out in the book he had his hands in dirty places in the Iran/Contra affair which I didn't know and he was pardoned for. I knew a lot of people were pardoned and that the guilty went to the VP but claimed not to the President. Just watching the news is enough to see shady dealings with Dick Chaney, his oil company, and more. Reading this book you get a look behind the scenes and see he planned for a very long time to give the President a lot of power like he had designs on it in advance. It didn't matter how he got what he wanted either. The story tells how each grows up, which is totally opposite and how they end up meeting and working together. Rumsfield and other key actors are in there too with comments on how they interacted with those people.
    This book was not only a wonderful view into the two men's lives but a good history lesson to boot. I loved the easy writing style which made understanding the situations and men easier.
    5 people found this helpful
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