FOX News, Diet Sprite: Cheney's Comforts Away From Home
Veep Likes All TVs Tuned To FOX News Before Arrival

POSTED: 9:50 am EST March 24, 2006

WASHINGTON -- It doesn't take much to make Dick Cheney at home on the road: Diet Sprite, a pot of coffee -- both sans caffeine -- and a TV tuned to FOX News Channel.

No matter how controversial his policies, the vice president has kept any excitement in his personal life and habits under deep cover.

So perhaps it isn't surprising that the newly unearthed memo Cheney's office sends to hotels, outlining his "downtime requirements," contains no shockers or even rock star-like indulgences. The memo, obtained by the Web site The Smoking Gun, makes such modest requests as:


- A suite with a king- or queen-size bed and a connecting parlor.
- Four to six bottles of bottled water (specifically the name brands Calistoga or Perrier, if Mrs. Cheney is traveling with the vice president).
- Four cans of Diet Caffeine Free Sprite.

The hotel staff also is advised that when Cheney arrives that all lights should be turned on, a freshly brewed pot of decaf should be waiting, and the room should be 68 degrees, with "all televisions tuned to FOX News."

Cheney spent Thursday night in Tucson after speaking at a fundraiser for Sen. Jon Kyl.