After a lengthy 13-year retirement, former Vice President Dick Cheney found himself at the center of a poignant reunion, surrounded by surprising support from Democrats who once denounced him as a war criminal. This unexpected display took place as Cheney’s daughter, Liz Cheney, introduced her father to her former colleagues with a heartfelt, “This is my father. This is Dad.” The moment served as a significant reminder of the political landscape’s transformation during the Trump era.
Mary Claire Cheney, the second daughter of Dick Cheney, previously coordinated her father’s 2004 campaign and authored “Now It’s My Turn: A Daughter’s Chronicle of Political Life.” The Cheney sisters had a notable falling-out during Liz’s Senate campaign in 2013, primarily over Liz’s stance on same-sex marriage. Mary Cheney, openly gay and married since 2012, publicly criticized her sister’s views. However, Liz has since acknowledged her past mistakes and has fully embraced same-sex marriage.
In addition to his wife and two daughters, Dick Cheney leaves behind seven grandchildren.
Born on January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Richard Bruce Cheney was the eldest of three children. At 13, his family relocated to Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up amidst a conservative backdrop. Cheney was active in school, serving as captain of the football team and president of his senior class despite not being a standout student. His yearbook reflects a typical teenage photo of the era—a muscled teen sporting a crew cut and a tight smile. He eventually married his high school sweetheart, Lynne Vincent, in 1964.
Although Cheney began his college education at Yale, his studies were troubled; he flunked out twice before transferring to the University of Wyoming, where he successfully earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in political science by 1966. Despite the ongoing Vietnam War, Cheney was never drafted, receiving several deferments related to his educational and familial status.
The gathering reflects a broader narrative of reconciliation and political evolution, highlighting how personal relationships can transcend intense ideological divides. Mr. Cheney’s journey from a young man in Wyoming to a key figure in American politics is marked by both controversy and significant familial bonds, embodying the complexities of contemporary American political life.