The funeral service in Washington’s National Cathedral brought together family, friends, constituents and colleagues from both sides of the political aisle to honor Richard B. Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States. Many scholars consider his vice presidency as having a greater sway on policy than any other. His views were frequently controversial, his power of persuasion often consequential.
He was certainly among the most experienced vice presidents, having served for more than a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives and more than a decade in appointive office in the executive branch, including the White House and as secretary of defense before his eight years as vice president.
Competence and confidence
We first met in August 1974 when Gerald Ford assembled a transition team to advise him following the resignation of Richard Nixon. Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, was named to head the transition. Cheney, who had served as his confidant when Rumsfeld headed the Office of Economic Opportunity in the Nixon White House, was his close aide.
Cheney, in his early 30s, exuded competence and confidence. Within weeks, Rumsfeld replaced Alexander Haig as White House chief of staff and Cheney was his sole and indispensable deputy. A little over a year later, in the so-called Halloween Massacre, when Ford reshuffled his foreign policy team dispatching Rumsfeld to serve as secretary of defense, Cheney, age 34, was named White House chief of staff, the youngest in history.
With the promotion, the president offered to give him cabinet rank, an honor typically given the chief of staff. When I learned of this offer, I asked Cheney why he declined it. He responded that it was not essential to do his duties well and that was his central task. His choice enhanced his reputation among his peers, most of whom were much older.
When Ford was narrowly defeated by Jimmy Carter, Cheney decided that rather than pursue an academic career, he would seek a path of public service. Two years later he was elected to represent Wyoming in the U.S. House of Representatives. He quickly moved up the ladder securing election as Whip, the No. 2 position in the Republican caucus. His rise in leadership reflected his colleagues’ high regard for his legislative and political skills
He enjoyed Congress and focused much of his attention on the House Intelligence Committee and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. In March 1989, when Sen. John Tower’s nomination for secretary of defense was defeated, President George H.W. Bush nominated Cheney, who was confirmed quickly and overwhelmingly.
Cheney joined George H.W. Bush, Jim Baker, Brent Scowcroft, Colin Powell and others in one of the most successful foreign policymaking teams in the post-World War II period.
Convictions
Dick Cheney’s keen eye and appreciation for history served him well. In the world of public policy, he resisted the lure of present-mindedness. In his early 20s, while working laying transmission lines, he read in the evenings Churchill’s six-volume history of World War II.
His great-grandfather had served in the Ohio 21st Regiment for all four years of the Civil War and Cheney immersed himself in Civil War sites, driving with his wife and daughters and reading every plaque.
He had witnessed the surge of congressional efforts to restrain executive action through the War Powers Act and other legislation and became convinced that a powerful commander in chief was essential in a troubled and contentious world. He was eager for the president and the executive branch to recapture power seized by Congress during the 1970s.
His style in meetings in the two White Houses where we worked together was consistent. He rarely spoke early in meetings, listening carefully to the arguments of others. He prepared meticulously for such sessions and posed questions crucial to making an informed decision. Then, in the latter part of the meeting, he would crisply and cogently identify what he viewed as the most important considerations and the option or options he considered wisest. It was a remarkably effective way of advancing his position.
Courage
In a world where many in government are eager to climb the proverbial ladder, the temptation to focus on seeking the next rung sometimes prompts the trimming of sails and a willingness to avoid difficult choices. That path was not for him.
Dick Cheney never seriously sought his party’s nomination for president nor to join a national ticket. His quarter of a century in public life had exceeded his expectations. He was ready for a new challenge and accepted the opportunity to apply his management skills in the world of business. Ultimately, he was persuaded by Texas Gov. George W. Bush to serve as his running mate in the 2000 election. After one of the closest elections in U.S. history, he once more found himself back in public service.
To understand Dick Cheney, one must understand his more than six-decade long bond with his wife Lynne. High school sweethearts in Casper, Wyoming, they married; raised their two daughters; wrote books, including one together, a masterful volume on Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives; and in ways large and small demonstrated the primacy of family.
Lynne influenced him early, often and long. He dealt with four heart attacks and a heart transplant at the age of 71. He had Cheney grit, a phrase used to describe his great-grandfather in the Civil War. He supported his daughter Liz as she placed principle over position.
Dick Cheney’s remarkable life tells much about the American saga. He rose from humble beginnings to become arguably the most influential vice president in U.S. history. Wherever he went, Cheney’s contributions were consequential through his keen intellect, sustained work effort and earned trust. His touchstones were the quest for freedom and a commitment to an America strong and free.