On a solemn Thursday morning, the Washington National Cathedral filled with the quiet hum of dignitaries, family, and friends, all gathered to honor the life and legacy of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney, who passed away in early November 2025 at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, was remembered as a formidable statesman, a devoted public servant, and a figure whose influence shaped the course of American politics for more than four decades.
As the casket was carried into the cathedral, the congregation included a rare assembly of political leaders from both sides of the aisle. Former President George W. Bush, who served alongside Cheney from 2001 to 2009, delivered a heartfelt eulogy that cut through the usual partisanship of Washington. "In a profession that attracts talkers, he was a thinker and a listener," Bush said, according to BBC. He recalled a pivotal moment during the difficult 2004 re-election campaign when Cheney offered to step off the ticket for the good of the party. Bush reflected, "I arrived at the conclusion they do not come any better than Dick Cheney. He was everything a president should expect as a second-in-command."
Cheney’s daughter, former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney, also took to the podium, her words weaving together personal memories and her father’s unwavering sense of duty. "My dad’s devotion to America was deep and substantive. He spent his life studying the history of our great republic. He knew you couldn’t truly appreciate what it means to live in freedom if you didn’t understand the sacrifices of the generations who came before," she said, as reported by NBC News. Liz Cheney recounted family trips to Civil War battlefields, where her father would insist on reading every sign, every plaque—a testament to his belief in understanding history to appreciate liberty.
Cheney’s journey into public service was shaped early on, Liz Cheney revealed, by a visit from President John F. Kennedy to the University of Wyoming. Inspired by Kennedy’s call to service, Cheney charted a path that would see him become one of the most consequential vice presidents in American history. "Though he was inspired to service by President Kennedy, Dick Cheney became a Republican, but he knew that bonds of party must always yield to the single bond we share as Americans," Liz Cheney remarked. "For him, a choice between defense of the Constitution and defense of your political party was no choice at all."
Throughout his career, Cheney was recognized as a key architect of the global war on terrorism and the second Iraq War. His tenure as vice president during the Bush administration was marked by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the subsequent U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and controversial policies including warrantless wiretapping and the use of harsh interrogation techniques. Despite fierce criticism and the eventual failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Cheney remained steadfast in his defense of his decisions, according to NBC News.
In the pews, former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris sat alongside former Vice Presidents Mike Pence and Al Gore, a testament to Cheney’s impact across administrations. Yet, the absence of some political figures was notable. Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were not present, a decision confirmed by a senior White House official to NBC News. Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, both Democrats, also did not attend.
In recent years, Cheney found himself increasingly out of step with the Republican Party. He condemned Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and became an outspoken critic of efforts to overturn the outcome. His daughter, Liz Cheney, mirrored his stance, repeatedly accusing Trump of violating the Constitution. In the 2024 White House election, both Cheneys endorsed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris—a rare cross-party endorsement that underscored their commitment to constitutional principles over party loyalty.
As reported by NBC News, Vice President JD Vance, though not invited to the funeral, offered condolences to the Cheney family. In a conversation with Breitbart News, Vance acknowledged, "Obviously, there are some political disagreements there, but he was a guy who served his country; we certainly wish his family all the best in this moment of grieving." Vance also used the opportunity to draw a sharp contrast between the current direction of the Republican Party and the era Cheney represented, stating, "I do think that some of our folks in Congress, they want to go back to the Republican Party of 20 years ago. That Republican Party was a Republican Party that lost and that couldn't successfully govern the country."
The day of Cheney’s funeral was not without political turbulence. That morning, Donald Trump unleashed a barrage of social media posts, accusing several Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior" and calling for them to be "arrested and put on trial" for actions he claimed could be "punishable by death." The lawmakers, many of whom were veterans, had posted a video urging military and intelligence officers to refuse illegal orders. Trump’s posts drew immediate condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, who described the rhetoric as dangerous and inflammatory. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., responded to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s claims, saying, "She completely twisted what it is that we said. We said that people cannot—literally cannot—obey unlawful orders. That’s what we said. She twisted that into saying that we told people to disobey lawful orders, and this is exactly what the problem is with this upside-down world that we’re living in right now."
Amid the swirl of political discord, the funeral stood as a rare moment of unity and reflection. Former President Bush, in his eulogy, emphasized Cheney’s character beyond the headlines: "You did not know Dick Cheney unless you understood his greatest concerns and ambitions were for his country. Across 40 years, his service was consistent, faithful and noble. All in all, not a bad showing for a career and a life, especially when you consider his sheer physical endurance." Bush added a more personal note, calling Cheney "smart and polished... courteous and approachable, seeing everyone as an equal. A gentleman by nature and a true man of the West, Dick was funny and easy-going in a style that his public image never caught up with, though we can all agree, wasn't your standard-issue politician."
As the service concluded, the Cheney family stood together, joined by friends and colleagues, in a final tribute to a man whose career was defined by both controversy and conviction. Liz Cheney’s words lingered in the cathedral: "He knew the bonds of party must always yield to the single bond we share as Americans." In a capital riven by partisanship and suspicion, the funeral of Dick Cheney offered a fleeting reminder of the values that, at their best, transcend party and politics.
