Dick Cheney

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Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce Cheney (born January 30, 1941) is an American politician and businessman affiliated with the U.S. Republican Party. He is currently serving as the 46th Vice President of the United States under George W. Bush.

"Dick" Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He grew up in Casper, Wyoming, and earned his bachelor's and master's of arts degrees from the University of Wyoming. He is married to his highschool sweetheart Lynne Cheney, an author and college teacher. They have grown daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, and three granddaughters.

He began serving the Nixon administration in 1969, serving in a number of positions at the Cost of Living Council, at the Office of Economic Opportunity, and within the White House. Under President Gerald Ford, Cheney became Assistant to the President and White House Chief of Staff.

In 1977 he was elected to represent Wyoming in the United States House of Representatives, and was re-elected five times. He was Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee from 1981 to 1987. He was elected Chairman of the House Republican Conference in 1987 and elected House Minority Whip in 1988.

Cheney served as the United States Secretary of Defense from March 1989 to January 1993 under President George H. W. Bush and directed Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East.

Cheney joined the American Enterprise Institute after leaving office in 1993. In 1995 he became President and CEO of Halliburton Company, and energy services company with subsidiaries serving as private military contractors. He also sat on the board of Procter & Gamble, Union Pacific, and EDS.

Widely considered to be one of the more hawkish members of the cabinet, Cheney was one of the leading proponents in the Bush administration's to invade Iraq. He is a member of the Project for the New American Century, which earlier in September 2000 proposed an invasion of Iraq. In March 2003, the US invaded Iraq in the 2003 Iraq war.

Supporters of Vice President Cheney point to his reputation for knowledge and character. Opponents and detractors accuse him of being too closely tied and beholden to the oil industry.

For example, critics point out that Kellogg, Brown and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton, has a contract to control oil fires in Iraq if the well heads are set on fire. However, Cheney sold most of his Halliburton shares when he left the company, and retains stock options worth about $8 million. He arranged to pay any profits to charity.

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Lynne Cheney

Lynne Ann Vincent Cheney, born August 14, 1941 in Casper, Wyoming, is the wife of Richard B. Cheney, United States Vice President (2000-). They dated in secondary school and married in 1964.

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College, Masters of Arts from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. in 19th century British literature from the University of Wisconsin.

Lynne Cheney has had her own career in public service, having served as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1986 to 1993. More recently, she has been senior fellow in education and culture at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. She also serves as a director of the Reader's Digest Association.

She is author or co-author of six books, including:

Dick and Lynne Cheney have two children, daughters Elizabeth and Mary, and three granddaughters.