Lewis Libby American Republican politician Date of Birth: 22.08.1950 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Government and Legal Career
3. Private Sector and The Apprentice
4. Involvement with the Bush Administration
5. Iraq War and Valerie Plame Controversy
6. Trial, Sentencing, and Commutation
7. Personal Life and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Lewis Libby was born on August 22, 1950, in New Haven, Connecticut. Growing up in Florida, he earned the lifelong nickname "Scooter." He attended the prestigious Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, graduating in 1968.

Libby then pursued a degree at Yale University, earning a bachelor's degree with honors in 1972. One of his instructors was Paul Wolfowitz, a prominent future neocon and World Bank president. He continued his education at Columbia Law School, receiving his J.D. in 1975.

Government and Legal Career

After graduating, Libby established a successful legal practice in Philadelphia. In 1981, he joined the State Department at the invitation of his former professor, Wolfowitz, who had become assistant secretary of state. He served as an aide in the secretary of state's policy planning staff, later becoming director of special projects in the bureau of East Asian and Pacific affairs.

With the inauguration of George H.W. Bush in 1989, Libby returned to government service. As an aide to Wolfowitz, who now served as deputy secretary of defense, Libby caught the attention of future vice president Richard Cheney. He played a significant role in drafting the "Defense Planning Guidance," advocating for American military dominance.

Private Sector and The Apprentice

After Bush lost the 1992 election, Libby entered private practice in Washington, D.C., becoming managing partner of Dechert, Price & Rhoads' Washington office. Notably, he represented the controversial businessman Marc Rich, who fled the United States to avoid prosecution.

In 1996, Libby published his acclaimed novel "The Apprentice," a historical thriller set in early 20th-century Japan.

Involvement with the Bush Administration

Libby was a co-founder of the Project for the New American Century in 1997, a conservative think tank advocating for American global leadership. In 2000, he joined "The Vulcans," a group of foreign policy and security advisors to George W. Bush's presidential campaign.

After Bush's victory, Cheney appointed Libby as his chief of staff, national security advisor, and counselor to the president. Libby's close relationship with Cheney earned him the moniker "Dick Cheney's Dick Cheney."

Iraq War and Valerie Plame Controversy

Libby played a key role in shaping the Bush administration's foreign policy, including the invasion of Iraq. He participated in the drafting of a document claiming that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

In 2005, Libby was indicted on five felony charges related to the Valerie Plame case, a scandal involving the leak of a CIA agent's identity. He resigned from the administration on October 28, 2005.

Trial, Sentencing, and Commutation

After a trial in January 2007, Libby was convicted on four counts and sentenced to two and a half years in prison. However, President Bush commuted his sentence to home confinement on July 2, 2007.

Personal Life and Legacy

Lewis Libby is married with two children. He is Jewish and an avid skier. Despite the controversies surrounding his career, Libby remains an influential figure in Republican politics and a respected author.