The grand arches of the Washington National Cathedral echoed with solemnity on December 5, 2025, as dignitaries from across the American political spectrum gathered to honor the late former Vice President Dick Cheney. The funeral service, attended by a veritable who’s who of recent U.S. leadership, became not just a moment of remembrance, but a tableau of American democracy’s resilience, contradictions, and hope for renewal.
Cheney, who died on November 4 at age 84 from complications of pneumonia as well as cardiac and vascular disease, was remembered both for his towering presence in American politics and for the controversies that marked his career. According to NewsNation, Cheney’s legacy spanned decades: from his early days as chief of staff under President Gerald Ford, to his tenure as a representative from Wyoming, his role as Secretary of Defense, and finally his eight years as Vice President under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. Many, including his daughter Liz Cheney, remembered him as “a giant till the end, a lion of a man who loved and served this great republic.”
The day itself, however, was as much about the living as the departed. Former Presidents Joe Biden and George W. Bush, together with First Ladies Jill Biden and Laura Bush, took their seats at the front. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, known for her broad, infectious laugh, sat beside former Vice President Mike Pence, creating a rare moment of bipartisan proximity. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and former Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, both soon retiring, sat nearby—two stalwarts passing the torch to a new generation of leadership. Their composed presence was a reminder of a Congress that, despite deep divisions, had at critical moments stood firm for constitutional order.
Yet, it was a simple gesture—a handshake between George W. Bush and Al Gore—that seemed to encapsulate the spirit of the day. As reported in The Baltimore Sun, the handshake between the two former rivals, whose 2000 presidential contest remains one of the most contentious in American history, was a potent symbol of the peaceful transfer of power. “The gesture was gracious—and, yes, dignified—on both sides. That's the way American democracy is supposed to be,” the Sun’s observer reflected, recalling the five-week saga that ended with a razor-thin Supreme Court decision and a nation on edge. The moment struck a deep chord, especially for those who witnessed the chaos of January 6, 2021, when a mob incited by then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results.
The contrast could not have been starker. As the Sun noted, “One freighted moment framed the peaceful transfer of power.” The handshake was a balm for wounds still raw from recent years of political violence and division. It was also a silent rebuke to those who, in the words of the Sun, have contributed to the coarsening of political discourse and the incitement of violence—an implicit reference to Trump and the ongoing tensions his movement has stoked.
Absent from the service were President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who, according to a White House official cited by NewsNation, were not invited. Trump has yet to comment publicly on Cheney’s passing. Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were also not in attendance, though Obama acknowledged Cheney’s death in a Facebook post, writing, “Although Dick Cheney and I represented very different political traditions, I respected his lifelong devotion to public service and his deep love of country. Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to his family.”
Cheney’s legacy remains deeply intertwined with pivotal moments in recent American history. He was widely regarded as the principal architect of the U.S. response to the September 11 attacks and the driving force behind the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Both decisions shaped the trajectory of American foreign policy and domestic life for decades. His embrace of controversial methods in the so-called global war on terror, including the endorsement of torture, left an indelible mark on America’s image at home and abroad. As the Sun put it, “He succeeded in spooking us Americans into a ‘homeland security’ state. Kids today don't know any other way.”
Yet, Cheney’s final years were marked by a surprising political twist. Despite a lifetime as a staunch Republican, he publicly declared his support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, underscoring the shifting allegiances and complex realities of American politics. This late conversion, as the Sun’s columnist noted, “doesn’t really change much in the long run,” but it did serve as a reminder of the capacity for political figures to evolve—or at least to reassess their alliances in the face of changing times.
For those gathered, the funeral was not just about mourning a political giant but also about reflecting on the fragile state of American democracy. The presence of Pelosi, Pence, and McConnell—who insisted on returning to the vandalized Capitol on January 6 to certify the Electoral College results—was a testament to the enduring strength of constitutional norms, even in the face of chaos. Their actions, as described by the Sun, were those of “stalwart heroes,” holding the line “until the darkness before the dawn.”
Cheney’s passing also brought to light the generational shift underway in American politics. With Pelosi and McConnell stepping down, new leaders will soon take their places, tasked with navigating a political landscape that remains deeply polarized. The memory of Cheney—a figure who, for all his flaws and controversies, embodied a certain kind of public service—serves as both a cautionary tale and an inspiration for those who follow.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lynne Cheney, his daughters Mary Cheney and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, and seven grandchildren. Liz Cheney’s tribute captured the mood of the day: “He was a giant till the end, a lion of a man who loved and served this great republic.”
As the last notes of the trumpet solo faded and the dignitaries filed out, the sense lingered that, despite all its trials, American democracy endures—sometimes battered, sometimes bruised, but always capable of renewal. In the quiet dignity of a handshake or the steadfast resolve to finish the task at hand, the nation finds its way forward, one moment at a time.
