The passing of Richard B. Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States, has not only prompted a moment of reflection among America’s political elite but has also reignited simmering tensions within the Republican Party. Cheney, whose funeral service was held at Washington’s National Cathedral on November 20, 2025, was a towering figure whose influence extended far beyond his official titles. As the nation gathered to honor a man regarded by many scholars as perhaps the most consequential vice president in American history, a parallel drama was unfolding within the GOP—one that speaks to the party’s ongoing identity crisis and the enduring legacy of its most prominent families.
Cheney’s career reads like a roadmap of American political power. Before his eight years as vice president, he served over a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives, rising to Whip, the second-highest position in the Republican caucus. He was also the youngest White House chief of staff in history at age 34 under President Gerald Ford, a testament to his early reputation for competence and confidence. As The Washington Post noted, Cheney “exuded competence and confidence” from his very first days in Washington, quickly becoming indispensable to the Ford administration and later, to the broader Republican establishment.
His journey to the vice presidency was marked by a string of influential appointments, including a swift confirmation as Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush in March 1989. There, he joined what many historians consider one of the most effective foreign policy teams since World War II, working alongside figures like Jim Baker, Brent Scowcroft, and Colin Powell. Cheney’s approach was methodical and deeply rooted in history—a man who, in his twenties, spent evenings reading Churchill’s six-volume history of World War II, and who, according to The New York Times, “became convinced that a powerful commander in chief was essential in a troubled and contentious world.”
Yet, for all his achievements, Cheney’s views were anything but universally embraced. His advocacy for a strong executive branch and his willingness to make difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions earned him both admirers and detractors. He was, as many colleagues have observed, a man of preparation and principle—one who “rarely spoke early in meetings, listening carefully to the arguments of others” before crisply outlining his positions. This style, combined with his refusal to seek the presidency himself, contributed to a reputation for integrity and focus. Even after four heart attacks and a heart transplant at age 71, Cheney’s so-called “Cheney grit” never wavered, a quality attributed to his great-grandfather’s Civil War service and echoed in his support for his daughter Liz Cheney’s principled stances.
The November 3, 2025, passing of Cheney has thus become more than a moment of mourning. It’s a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle for the soul of the Republican Party, a struggle that has burst into public view as rumors swirl about the Bush family’s alleged intentions to reclaim control of the GOP. According to Breitbart, a former Bush official recently claimed that the family is planning a comeback for the 2028 election, with former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele reportedly urging George W. Bush to step up his involvement. The Bushes, of course, are no strangers to the levers of power; George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush served as presidents from 1989 to 1993 and 2001 to 2009, respectively, shaping the party’s direction for decades.
But not everyone in the Republican ranks is welcoming the prospect of a Bush resurgence. On November 25, 2025, Donald Trump Jr. responded forcefully to the speculation, quote-tweeting a post about the Bush family’s reported plans with a blunt message: “We will never let this happen.” This statement, reported by Breitbart, encapsulates the resistance among Trump loyalists to any perceived return to the pre-Trump GOP establishment. The tension is palpable, especially as Vice President J.D. Vance, widely seen as the frontrunner for the 2028 Republican nomination, has also weighed in.
Vance, speaking with Breitbart News’ Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle, did not mince words about the party’s past. “There is an effort to try to wrest control of the Republican Party away from the voters and away from the coalition that really delivered the big victory in 2024. I think it’s a huge mistake,” Vance said. He continued, “Look, the American people don’t want stupid wars and America’s jobs going overseas and wide-open borders. That is, whether intentional or not, that was the legacy of the Republican Party that came before Donald J. Trump. I’m glad the president got us away from that Republican Party. It lost, but it was also a disaster for the United States of America. Let’s actually have a foreign policy where we focus on the interests of American citizens.”
The symbolism of Cheney’s funeral was not lost on observers. Neither Donald Trump nor J.D. Vance attended the service, a detail highlighted by Breitbart and others as evidence of the widening rift between the party’s old guard and its current leadership. Meanwhile, the Bush family’s absence from the Trump orbit—and George W. Bush’s vocal criticism of Trump—underscores the ideological and personal divides that continue to shape the party’s future.
These dynamics are unfolding against a backdrop of broader questions about the party’s direction. The Republican coalition that propelled Trump to victory in 2024 is wary of returning to the policies and personalities of the past. At the same time, figures like Michael Steele are advocating for a renewed Bush presence, arguing that experience and stability are needed in a tumultuous political climate. The debate is not merely academic; it has real consequences for policy, governance, and the party’s ability to unify ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
For many, Cheney’s life and career serve as both a model and a warning. His rise from humble beginnings in Casper, Wyoming, to the heights of American power was driven by intellect, work ethic, and earned trust. His partnership with his wife Lynne, his resilience in the face of health challenges, and his unwavering commitment to what he saw as the nation’s best interests are qualities that continue to resonate—regardless of where one stands in the current GOP debate.
As the Republican Party grapples with its identity in the post-Cheney, post-Trump era, the question remains: Will it embrace the legacy of its past leaders, or chart a new course defined by the coalition that delivered its most recent victories? For now, the only certainty is that the conversation—like Cheney’s influence—shows no sign of fading away.
