Lee Oliver

General Lee Oliver is the commanding officer of the New California Republic Army in the Mojave Wasteland in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
A career New California Republic Army soldier, General Lee Oliver is an outspoken supporter of warhawk President Aaron Kimball and his campaign of eastward expansion. As the commander of the Republic's forces in the Mojave, he is responsible for the overall strategy in the theatre. Unfortunately for the Mojave Campaign, Oliver has a tendency to plan strategically questionable operations that are decidedly inferior to his skills on a tactical level. In short, this means that he is a blockheaded, aggressive glory hound without the forethought necessary for effective military campaigns.

This is perhaps best exemplified by his preparations for the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, which Robert House mockingly calls "tunnel vision", where he diverts few resources to rather pressing strategic issues; for example, while the the Legion builds an increasingly strong foothold on the western bank of the Colorado River south of Hoover Dam, Lee recently left his administrative post at Camp McCarran to build up the garrison at the Dam proper, and intends to confront the Legion in a glorious great battle with a mass of NCR troops in an attempt to destroy the enemy through attrition. This strategy has earned him the defamatory moniker "General Wait-and-see" amongst many lower ranking officers and soldiers, who generally doesn't think much of him, and believe that got his post mostly due to nepotism.

The situation is complicated by Oliver's personal grudge against the Rangers and Chief Hanlon, due to the role they played during the First Battle of Hoover Dam in 2277. The strategic ingenuity of Hanlon's plan earned him widespread praise and popularity, obscuring Oliver's contribution. As a result, Oliver is determined to win the second battle entirely with his own methods, to the point of obstinately refusing to listen to Hanlon's input and jeopardizing Rangers in the field.

That said, Oliver isn't without redeeming qualities. He is a patriot, dedicated to the NCR and what it stands for. At the same time, he is also a rational man, unwilling to throw his men away at a lost cause or to just protect the NCR's honor. He has the Republic's interests at heart and is willing to commit drastic changes to the campaign, if he is convinced they would benefit the Republic in the long term.

Quests

 * Eureka!: If the Courier sides with the NCR, after the victory Lee Oliver personally congratulates the Courier in the Legate's Camp.
 * All or Nothing, No Gods, No Masters: If the Courier chose either to work with Mr. House or to fight for independent New Vegas, Lee Oliver also appears after Lanius is dealt with.
 * Veni, Vidi, Vici: If the Courier has chosen to aid Caesar, General Oliver becomes the main antagonist. The Courier has to battle his way through his defenses and reach his personal compound within the dam. There, Oliver can be persuaded to surrender. If not, he escapes to his office, being protected by force fields. The Courier will then have to fight their way through to him, eventually cornering him and killing him.

Effects of the player's actions

 * In the independent path, after convincing the General to surrender with the speech check, it is possible to tell Yes Man to throw him off the dam, resulting in a special cut scene showing him ragdoll over the side of the Hoover Dam.
 * Following Mr. House's quest path, many outcomes, depending on if the play saved or killed Kimball, can happen to Oliver from him being a disgrace in his country, to him rallying the citizens of the NCR to re-invade New Vegas after the death of Kimball. Mr. House also calculates that there is a 40% chance of him committing suicide after the defeat at Hover Dam.

Appearances
Lee Oliver appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.

Bugs

 * Killing him might cause him to become "Unconscious", but never getting back up, making it impossible for the player to loot his body.
 * When Oliver and the rangers blow down the door to the Legate's camp (and when any Securitrons show up after) everyone can get stuck outside the camp, possibly making the game unwinnable.