Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney
Karen Ballard, White House. · Public domain · source
Name	Richard Bruce Cheney
Birth date	November 30, 1941
Birth place	Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Office	46th Vice President of the United States
President	George W. Bush
Term start	January 20, 2001
Term end	January 20, 2009
Preceded by	Al Gore
Succeeded by	Joe Biden
Office2	17th United States Secretary of Defense
President2	George H. W. Bush
Term start2	March 20, 1989
Term end2	January 20, 1993
Preceded by2	Frank Carlucci
Succeeded by2	Les Aspin
Party	Republican Party
Spouse	Lynne Cheney (m. 1964)
Children	2 (including Liz Cheney)

Dick Cheney is an American politician and businessman who served as the 46th Vice President of the United States under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. A central figure in late 20th and early 21st century United States politics, he held senior roles in the Ford administration, the George H. W. Bush administration, and in the House of Representatives staff, and later became a top executive in the private sector. Cheney is noted for his influence on United States foreign policy, national security doctrine, and energy policy, and remains a polarizing figure in contemporary political discourse.

Early life and education

Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and raised in Casper, Wyoming. He attended Yale University for a time before transferring to and graduating from the University of Wyoming with a degree in political science. During his youth he was active in Republican student politics and became involved with figures associated with the conservative movement, including contacts with staff in the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford circles. His Wyoming roots connected him to energy interests in the Rocky Mountains region.

Early career and political rise

Cheney began his political career working on congressional and executive staff, including serving as chief of staff to Donald Rumsfeld when Rumsfeld was a member of the House of Representatives and later in the Ford administration. He served as a Member of Congress from Wyoming in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1989, where he was known for work on budget and defense issues and rose to positions on the House Republican Conference and committee assignments linked to appropriations and budget matters. After leaving the House he became White House Chief of Staff for President Gerald Ford, and subsequently served in senior roles in the Reagan administration and in advisory capacities to Republican leaders, forging ties with figures such as Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Newt Gingrich.

Tenure as Secretary of Defense

Appointed by President George H. W. Bush, Cheney served as Secretary of Defense from 1989 to 1993, overseeing the Department of Defense during pivotal events including the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the Gulf War (Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm). His term involved interactions with military leaders such as Colin Powell, H. Norman Schwarzkopf, and strategic planning with counterparts in NATO and allied governments including the United Kingdom and France. Cheney managed the post–Cold War drawdown and base closures, faced debates over force structure and defense acquisition policy, and navigated congressional scrutiny during the transition from Ronald Reagan-era defense initiatives.

Vice Presidency (2001–2009)

As Vice President to George W. Bush, Cheney was a central architect of post-9/11 national security policy, working closely with Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, and John Ashcroft. He played a prominent role in shaping the War on Terror, the invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003), and the development of doctrines related to preemptive action, enhanced interrogation policies, and extraordinary rendition—positions that brought him into frequent contact with the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and National Security Council. Cheney was influential in energy policy discussions and national security legal frameworks, often clashing with critics in Congress and advocacy groups, while also shaping appointments to the federal judiciary and executive agencies.

Post-vice presidency and later activities

After leaving office, Cheney remained active in political advocacy, writing and speaking on foreign policy and national security, and authoring a memoir that addressed the Iraq War and counterterrorism strategy. He engaged with conservative institutions and think tanks linked to the Republican Party and national security establishment, supported political campaigns including those of family members such as Liz Cheney, and participated in public debates with figures including Barack Obama aides and Democratic Party commentators. Cheney also maintained ties to energy industry networks and served on advisory boards and corporate boards in the private sector.

Personal life and health

Cheney married Lynne Vincent (Lynne Cheney) in 1964; they have two children, including Liz Cheney, who served as a U.S. Representative from Wyoming. He has had a long history of cardiovascular disease, undergoing multiple heart attacks, angioplasties, and eventually a heart transplant in 2012 at a medical center; he has also been treated for other conditions and faced media scrutiny regarding his health throughout his career. Cheney is known for his private persona, interests in history and policy literature, and residence in the Washington, D.C. area and Wyoming.

Legacy and controversies

Cheney's legacy is marked by significant influence on United States foreign policy and national security doctrine, especially in the context of the September 11 attacks, the subsequent Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War. Supporters credit him with decisive leadership on counterterrorism and military readiness; critics fault his advocacy of aggressive interrogation techniques, warrantless surveillance programs, and the intelligence assessments that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Cheney's tenure generated high-profile investigations and public debate involving institutions such as the Congressional Research Service and Supreme Court challenges to detention and surveillance policies. His role continues to be a focal point in assessments of executive power, national security law, and Republican Party strategy into the 21st century.

Category:1941 births Category:Living people Category:Vice presidents of the United States Category:United States Secretaries of Defense Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians