Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning

Donald Trump (born 1946) is a central figure in Oath and Honor and in many ways the book’s antagonist. Trump is a businessman, media personality, and Republican politician, becoming the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump’s father was a successful businessman, and Trump was born into an extremely wealthy family in New York. Trump studied for a bachelor’s degree in economics and was named president of the family’s real estate business by his father shortly after, in 1971. His business career has been tumultuous, characterized by both extreme successes and extreme failures and by constant litigation. From 2004 to 2015, Trump hosted and co-produced the reality TV series The Apprentice, giving him mass exposure across America.

In 2016, Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee, although without a popular majority. As the first president to have neither political nor military experience, he campaigned on the presentation of himself as a political outsider, and his presidency was characterized by controversy. His election was protested across America and equally vocally supported by his proponents. Trump was also the first president to engage with the public directly via social media platforms, and his communication was notably direct, opinionated, and unfiltered. Many perceived Trump’s statements as unstatesmanlike, divisive, racially discriminatory, and misogynistic, something that his supporters either denied or celebrated as free speech and part of his anti-establishment appeal.

Trump’s actions and rhetoric, particularly in relation to the 2020 presidential election and the subsequent events leading to the January 6 Capitol attack, are a focal point of Cheney’s analysis. The book details his refusal to concede the 2020 election and his role in perpetuating misinformation about alleged election fraud, which many people believe contributed directly to the events of January 6. Trump’s influence over the Republican Party and his impact on the political and social fabric of the country are critical to understanding the themes of political leadership and democracy in crisis, as explored in the book.

Like many opponents of Trump, Cheney cites his unorthodox actions and style in office, his isolationism and lack of rapport across much of the world, and his criminal and civil charges, especially as they relate to the January 6 insurrection and false allegations of electoral fraud. Her book expresses the widespread fear that the deep political and cultural discord focused on him as a figure and exploited by his politics will be worsened to a dangerous degree across America if he wins the 2024 presidential election, or even if he runs. Cheney also expresses concern that Trump would make constitutional changes to augment his executive powers. Oath and Honor forms part of Cheney’s and the wider anti-Trump lobby’s campaign to prevent him from winning a new term as president in 2024.

Mark Meadows (born 1959) is a Republican politician who was US Representative for North Carolina’s congressional district from 2013 to 2020. On the right wing of the party, Meadows was considered one of Trump’s closest allies and served as the White House Chief of Staff under President Trump. His role in the Trump administration during the pivotal period of the 2020 election and the January 6 events places him at the heart of Cheney’s narrative. Evidence shows that Meadows aided Trump in his efforts to overturn the election result, especially in putting pressure on government officials in Georgia and seeking methods to deny and obstruct the result. Meadows is featured in the book as a significant player in the administration’s response (or lack thereof) to the Capitol attack and in Trump-led broader efforts to challenge the election results. Cheney’s attempts to clarify the nature of his actions and decisions are critical to her presentation of the internal dynamics of the Trump White House and the Trump administration’s approach to the unfolding crisis. Meadows refused to cooperate with the Select Committee. He was indicted in 2023 as part of the prosecution related to the 2020 election in Georgia. Cheney’s book uses Meadows as an example to explore themes like the integrity of democracy and the responsibilities of political leadership in times of national upheaval.

Mike Pence (born 1959) is a Republican politician who was serving as Vice President under Trump at the time of the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 capitol attack. As such, he is a pivotal figure in Oath and Honor. Despite immense pressure from President Trump and others, Pence refused to follow Trump’s direction and adhered to constitutional duties in his role as the certifier of the 2020 presidential election results. His actions on January 6, standing firm against attempts to overturn the election results, exemplify the theme of upholding constitutional responsibilities in the face of political and personal pressure. Pence was openly criticized by Trump as a “traitor,” and his base of support in the Republican Party and among party voters suffered as a result. He has distanced himself from Trump since 2020. Pence’s relationship with Trump, his response to the Capitol attack, and his stance on the electoral certification process offer insights as part of the book’s portrayal of complex political dynamics and ethical dilemmas faced by leaders during this critical juncture in American history. Cheney presents Pence as a key Republican ally in a party dominated by Trump and leans on his portrayal as a fellow Republican outsider, fighting on the same side in the moral and cultural battle for the future of the Republican Party.

Kevin McCarthy (born 1965) is a Republican politician. He was elected as the House Minority Leader in 2018 while Trump was president. As such, he is a notable figure in Cheney’s book, especially in the context of the Republican Party’s response to the January 6 events. From 2016, McCarthy was a staunch supporter of Trump. He privately criticized President Trump’s behavior directly following the Capitol attack and in public the week after, but he later contradicted many of his statements and aligned himself with Trump’s efforts to overturn the election, not recognizing Biden’s win until two months after the election. His prevarication is part of the book’s exploration of the complex political dynamics within the GOP, political ambition, and moral vacillation. McCarthy’s actions exemplify the party’s internal conflicts and the struggle for its future direction. His leadership decisions and statements about the January 6 events and their aftermath provide insights into the political divide and the challenges of maintaining party unity in turbulent times.

Mitch McConnell (born 1942) is a Republican politician who has been a US Senator for Kentucky since 1985. He became Senate Minority Leader in 2021. Several times during Trump’s presidency, McConnell criticized Trump in private and public, especially in relation to several of Trump’s racially charged and misogynistic comments. McConnell refused to acknowledge Biden’s win immediately after the election but reversed his previous stance a day later, on December 15, 2020. On January 6, he spoke publicly in open condemnation of Trump’s claim that the election was stolen and of the Capitol attack. His rapid acknowledgment of Joe Biden’s victory and his condemnation of the Capitol attack contrasted with the approaches of other Republican leaders at the time. His leadership role in the Senate during this critical period reflects the theme of upholding constitutional duties and the responsibilities of political leadership during a crisis, and Cheney presents him as principled politician and an old-style conservative. McConnell’s actions form part of the book’s efforts to shed light on the broader responses within the Republican Party to Trump’s claims of election fraud and the attack on the Capitol.