Share

Dick Cheney biography

1 photo

Quick Facts

Best Known For

Dick Cheney served four Republican presidents and spent six terms in the House. The former Vice President specialized in defense, energy, and the Middle East.

Videos see all videos

Quiz

Think you know about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now
Dick Cheney - Full Episode watch more videos (1)

Perhaps the largest overstepping of bounds came from Dick Cheney's involvement with the Valerie Plame scandal. In 2003, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Cheney's chief of staff, was involved in leaking to the press the identity of Valerie Plame,

Contents

a covert CIA agent who was also the wife of Bush critic and ambassador Joe Wilson. Libby was eventually found guilty of lying during the investigation and was sentenced to jail; President Bush commuted his sentence but did not pardon him. Cheney later publicly announced that he disagreed with Bush's decision, marking one of their very few public disagreements.

Another major area of disagreement between Cheney and Bush was same-sex marriage: Bush is opposed, whereas Cheney's younger daughter, Mary, is a lesbian. Neither Dick and Lynne Cheney supports a federal amendment banning same-sex marriage, as they believe that states should be able to decide; however, they allowed Bush to form his own federal policy on this issue during the administration.

Dick Cheney declined to seek the Republican nomination during the 2008 election. Since 2009, Cheney has regularly appeared in the news as a critic of President Barack Obama's administration, though he praised President Obama for his handling of Osama bin Laden's assassination. As of 2010, he has had five heart attacks, though this has not slowed down his pace of speaking and writing: he recently began working on a memoir. An avid hunter and fisher, his Secret Service code name was "Angler," and he made headlines in 2006 for accidentally shooting a fellow hunter in the face. Cheney is generally regarded to be a man who used his power to do what he believed was necessary, and was not deterred by the consequences. Not one to either make apologies or skirt controversy, Cheney's legacy will likely continue to be debated.

© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.

ADVERTISEMENT
9246063 9246063
profile id: 9246063
profile name: Dick Cheney
profile occupation:
related profile id: 9246063
related profile name: Dick Cheney
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/C/Dick-Cheney-WC-9246063-2-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/dick-cheney-9246063
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
See More Bio Connections
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups

    See all related groups

    Shop Bio
    Dick Cheney Quiet Authority DVD
    DVD
    $19.99

    Buy Now
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!