Dick Cheney

Richard Bruce Cheney is an American politician and former businessman who served as the 46th Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. Born on January 30, 1941 in Lincoln, Nebraska, he grew up in both Nebraska and Casper, Wyoming, before attending Yale briefly and then earning a B.A. and M.A. in political science from the University of Wyoming. His early career began as an intern for Congressman William A. Steiger in 1969, followed by staff positions in the Nixon and Ford administrations, culminating in his role as White House Chief of Staff from 1975 to 1977. After being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, Cheney represented Wyoming’s at‑large district for ten years, serving briefly as House Minority Whip and as Chair of the House Republican Conference. In 1989 President George H. W. Bush appointed him Secretary of Defense, a post he held until 1993 and in which he oversaw Operation Just Cause in Panama and the Gulf War’s Operation Desert Storm. From 1995 to 2000 Cheney was chairman and CEO of Halliburton, returning to public service when George W. Bush selected him as his running mate in the 2000 presidential election. As Vice President, he was a dominant behind‑the‑scenes figure, shaping the administration’s response to the September 11 attacks, advocating the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and championing expansive executive‑branch powers, including controversial surveillance and interrogation policies. His tenure earned him the reputation as the most powerful vice president in American history, while also attracting intense criticism and a historically low approval rating by the end of his second term. Since leaving office he has remained an outspoken commentator, publishing memoirs, endorsing presidential candidates, and publicly opposing former President Donald Trump, even pledging support for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.