Cheney To Rahm: "Keep Your VP Under Control"

CNN reports on a private meeting organized by White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, where 13 of his predecessors offered future Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel some bipartisan advice.

Vice President Dick Cheney had some blunt -- and humorous -- advice for incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel at a private breakfast earlier this month, CNN has learned.

"The best thing you can do is keep your VP under control," Cheney told Emanuel, according to three sources familiar with the White House meeting that had previously not been disclosed publicly.

One of the sources, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the private meeting, said the room broke up in laughter because of Cheney's reputation for being a hard-charging vice president.

Politico gives the full list of attendees: Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld (Ford), Jack Watson (Carter), Howard Baker and Kenneth Duberstein (Reagan) John Sununu and Samuel Skinner (Bush 41), Mack McLarty, Leon Panetta, Erskine Bowles and John Podesta (Clinton) and Andy Card and Bolten (Bush).

Emanuel got tips on how to preserve his family life; was urged to keep in mind that the most important word in his title is "staff"; pushed to hire only the best and then give them Sundays off when possible; and reminded to be candid with the president (something, one former top aide said, would not be a problem with the outspoken and sometimes-profane Emanuel)

He might have been a former top aide himself in the Clinton administration, but Emanuel took "copious notes" the whole time, one participant recalled.

"There was a lot of camaraderie," recalled Emanuel. "This is a shared experience of just about a dozen people, and it was touching that Josh pulled it together and that so many could attend and wish me luck."

Comments

[karinova]

The truly astounding, world-upside-down, shocker news is that Cheney tells jokes.

And yet, even with this new information, he still comes off as the most humorless SOB imaginable.

[GregorZap]

Everybody laughing does not mean it was a joke, or even funny. It probably made everyone uncomfortable, so they laughed. Nobody knows how much damage Cheney has done to this country better then Cheney. It was good advice. But Biden is no Cheney and control is doubtful to be an issue except when it comes to careless remarks.

[bastalready]

There is absolutely nothing funny about Cheney. Niente. Nulla. Nothing!

[miel2001]

Sorry but who is Cheny to give any advice, what an evil guy he is. I’ll give Rahm some advice; don’t listen to anything Dick says.

The worst thing the President or Rahm could do is try and restrict VP Biden. Honestly, I am so happy with President Elect Obama and equally like VP Biden.

What a great team and a team they should stay, with President Obama in the lead and Biden his number 2. Not his number 3 or restricted to unimportant matters. If that was the plan they should have left Biden in the Senate where he was doing a great job and having a beneficial impact to society.

I believe in Barack and know he will utilize Joe Biden for the common good.

[Amalek]

Classy thing to do. Bush is at least going out in style.

[roybattyjunior]

As much as I loathe the guy, at times Cheney displays a quick and wry sense of humor that completely surprises me...but I won't miss it one bit when he's gone...

[gerontion72]

Public to Cheney, "Go f*ck yourself, Mr. Cheney."

[dphilip]

You know good and well that he laughs his a $$ off at his critics. He has lead you democrats around by the nose for eight years...While he is enjoying his lavish retirement you'll still be letting the memory of Dick Cheney dominate your life and throw you into foaming at the mouth rants...too funny.

[karinova]

Wait, I'm sorry.
He's led DEMOCRATS around by the nose??

WHICH party is soundly out of power, with zero political capital for the future?
And WHOSE movement is a shambles?

Sorry to break it to you, but Dems weren't the only ones foaming.

[Rayme]

Sounds like Cheney is giving advise to the new Cheney that would be Emanuel.

[hialoha]

He got laughs? iI should have been shoes. Can't wait for the winds of change to purify the air.

[LMPE]

Definitely keep the veep under control or he'll be another Cheney.

[plages]

Oh please keep Guantanamo open for cheney, bush, rice, and so many more!

[dessertsfirst]

Love it!

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

Take care of business, Rahm.

[haramagoti]

Laughter? I'm horrified. That level of irony is as dark as the deeds themselves Cheney Corp. committed. Nothing funny about the death of innocents in my mind. Those who laughed shouldn't be allowed in government.

[DRaymond]

Well I'll admit it was dark humor, but the thought of Cheney suggesting to keep the VP under control pegs the irony-meter

[haramagoti]

well put

[SiberianRat]

I was thinking the same thing--Cheney's crimes are too horrific to laugh at.

[ObjectiveRealist]

Laughter has many psychological functions. I'm also horrified, and I laughed out loud at the headline. It had more to do with relieving tension than being amused.

[clipper]

One question. Why did Cheney and Bush get RE-ELECTED? Nothing funny about that. The entire world was horrified.

[bardgal]

HAAAAAAAAA­AAAAAAAAAA­AA!!!

[ZellaBee]

Yes....... because he was so out of control.

[AmberGaze]

Possibly the worst VP ever, giving someone else advice? Say it ain't so!