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Hoover Opens 30+ Exclusive Interviews with Foreign Policy Leaders
New collection includes interviews with Cheney, Powell, Shultz, and others from author James Mann's archives
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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The Hoover Institution Library & Archives has announced the opening of more than 30 exclusive interviews with influential political figures from the collection of author James Mann. The newly available material includes interviews with Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Brent Scowcroft, George Shultz, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Richard Armitage, among others. Many of the interviews were conducted for Mann's book "The Great Rift", which details the relationship between Cheney and Powell.
Why it matters
These interviews provide valuable insights into late 20th and early 21st century American foreign policy, complementing Hoover's existing collections related to figures like George P. Shultz, Condoleezza Rice, and the George W. Bush administration. Researchers studying U.S.-China relations and the Iraq War will also find connections to Hoover's extensive holdings in these areas.
The details
The interviews were part of author James Mann's research for his book "The Great Rift", which explored the relationship between Dick Cheney and Colin Powell. Mann is an award-winning author and former journalist who has written extensively on American foreign policy and China. The new collection at Hoover adds to the institution's existing materials related to late 20th and early 21st century U.S. foreign policy.
- The interviews were conducted by author James Mann over the past several decades.
- The Hoover Institution has now made the interviews publicly available as of February 19, 2026.
The players
Dick Cheney
Former U.S. Vice President under George W. Bush and a key figure in American foreign policy.
Colin Powell
Former U.S. Secretary of State under George W. Bush and a prominent foreign policy leader.
James Mann
An award-winning author and former journalist who has written extensively on American foreign policy and China.
Hoover Institution
A public policy think tank located at Stanford University that houses an extensive library and archives on American politics and foreign policy.
What they’re saying
“James Mann's gripping account of the rise and fall of Dick Cheney and Colin Powell is almost Shakespearean in its pitch-perfect portrayal of two close friends turned bitter foes, whose ambition and internecine warfare played a key role in America's disastrous involvement in the war in Iraq, with grievous effects that continue to this day.”
— Lynne Olson, American author and historian
What’s next
The Hoover Institution plans to continue cataloging and making available additional materials from the James Mann collection related to American foreign policy in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
The takeaway
The new collection of interviews from James Mann's archives provides a unique window into the inner workings and personal dynamics of key foreign policy leaders during a pivotal period in U.S. history, complementing Hoover's existing resources on American politics and international relations.
