Historical Figure
Dick Cheney
1941–2025
Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009
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Biography
Richard Bruce Cheney was an American politician and businessman who served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. He is widely considered to be the most powerful vice president in United States history. A member of the Republican Party, Cheney previously served as White House chief of staff for President Gerald Ford, the U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district from 1979 to 1989, and as the 17th United States secretary of defense in the administration of President George H. W. Bush. He was also considered by many to be the architect of the Iraq War.
In Their Own Words (5)
You know, Paul, Reagan proved that deficits don't matter. We won the mid-term elections, this is our due.
Remarks on Paul O'Neill (January 9, 2004) , 2004
The important thing here to understand is that the people that are at Guantanamo are bad people. I mean, these are terrorists for the most part.
Interview talking about the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay on Fox News (13 June 2005) , 2005
My belief is, we will, in fact be greeted as liberators.
Meet The Press with Tim Russert. (March 16, 2003) , 2003
What we did in Iraq was exactly the right thing to do. If I had it to recommend all over again, I would recommend exactly the same course of action.
Vice Presidential Debate October 5, 2004 , 2004
Oil remains fundamentally a government business. While many regions of the world offer great oil opportunities, the Middle East with two thirds of the world's oil and the lowest cost, is still where the prize ultimately lies, even though companies are anxious for greater access there, progress continues to be slow.
Speech delivered at the London Institute of Petroleum, 1999 , 1999
Timeline
The story of Dick Cheney, told in moments.
Becomes White House Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford at 34. The youngest person to hold the job. He runs the West Wing with a quiet ruthlessness that earns him the nickname "The Enforcer."
Appointed Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush. Oversees the invasion of Panama and Operation Desert Storm. Argues against marching on Baghdad, saying it would create a "quagmire." He reverses this position 14 years later.
Sworn in as Vice President under George W. Bush. After 9/11, he operates from an undisclosed location and becomes the architect of the "war on terror," pushing hard for the Iraq invasion. Critics call him the most powerful VP in American history.
Shoots his hunting companion Harry Whittington in the face, neck, and chest with a 28-gauge shotgun while quail hunting in Texas. Whittington survives and later apologizes to Cheney for the trouble. Cheney doesn't speak publicly about it for four days.
Dies at 84.
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