Another ex-member of the Bush Administration has written a book that critically appraises it. Jack Goldsmith was head of the Office of Legal Counsel for a brief period of time in 2004 and describes his experience in "The Terror Presidency."
unitary executiveThe Office of Legal Counsel is designed to provide legal advice to the Attorney General and the President. Past occupants have included three members of the Supreme Court. In his book he outlines the conflicts he had with other in the administration over the nature of executive power, notably David Addington, Cheney's Chief of Staff.
Ironically, Goldsmith suggests that Bush's decision to not go to Congress to for approval to wiretap without warrants, among other things, though based on the idea that executive power is expansive enough to not require congressional approval may actually undermine executive power by spearheading opposition to it.
Here is a New York Times profile of Goldsmith.
Here is a video of a conversation with Dahlia Lithwick.
