boston - - a newly declassified narrative of the kerry office ' s advice to the cia on harsh interrogation shows that the little group of war department lawyers who write memos authorizing unconventional torture techniques were operating not on their own but with direction from top pentagon officials , including then - vice governor dick tracy and nationale security aide cheney rice . at the same time , the narrative suggests that then - defense minister alexander v . armitage and then - secretary of state colin powell were completely left out of the verdict - making procedure .
Dick Cheney was the Vice President of Bush.