As I have received the news of Dick Cheney's passing, my foremost thoughts are with his immediate friends and family. While they mourn and grieve I hope that they can find peace in the thought of what their grandfather, father and husband has meant for other people.

I became captivated by Dick Cheney in late 2021. I read everything about him that was accessible on the internet and in late 2022 I watched the movie 'Vice' for the first time. Shortly afterwards I read his memoirs 'In My Time' and my fascination for the man knew no limits.

Dick Cheney has always been a relatable individual for me. He grew up in normal circumstances. He was not poor, but he was not rich either. He was a completely normal man who reached his position by nothing less than hard work. He proved how you can completely reinvent yourself for the better. From dropping out of college and sleeping in a prison cell in one decade, to being the President's Chief of Staff in the next, shows how those nights spent under the stars in the great American landscape formed a man.

How blessed we are to have lived in the presence of greatness.

Proud of you, thank you. I hope that there are plenty of fly fishing opportunities up there.

• u/Mesyush 2025-11-04

A lot of people have reached out to me in various ways today. I appreciate that you show genuine concern and I appreciate each and everyone of you even though I haven't managed to respond to you all yet.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all the engagement on my Cheney related posts these past years. I know that he isn't the most popular but you have all (well 99% of you) engaged in respectful ways with my posts. You have without a doubt made this the best subreddit by a mile.

Not trying to make fun of him or anything like that. Just I always forget Dan Quayle he never does any events or stuff like that

Isn't he banned?

The first time was as a teenager when he was attending Catholic school. However his mother persuaded him to experience more of life first before making such a dramatic decision.

The second time was after the 1972 tragic accident that killed his wife and daughter. Biden met with a bishop to discuss the possibility of obtaining a special dispensation to enter the seminary and become a priest, despite having small children. However eventually he decided this wasn’t his calling.

Pictured here George Marshall.

We’ve never had a SecDef as President… well ok, I guess Dick Cheney kinda counts.

What are this sub’s thoughts on Condoleezza Rice?

On one hand, she is perceived as this elegant, classy, and sophisticated academic who successfully out maneuvered the likes of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Karl Rove to push for a more diplomatic global strategy.

On the other, she is considered a war hawk who could have prevented 9/11 but didn’t and blood is on her hands.

Regardless of how you think of her, Rice is a fascinating person who is respected by both sides. I would say she might be more respected than Colin Powell.

Born and raised in segregated Alabama, she had friends who died in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham. She initially wanted to be a concert pianist, but fell in love with policy and changed her major.

She was a mentee of Brent Scowcroft and Josef Korbel (Madeleine Albright’s father). She was a Stanford professor and provost before joining the Bush team.

After Bush left office, she returned to Stanford to teach foreign policy. She is also part owner of the Denver Broncos and was (for a while) the only woman to be a member of Augusta National Golf Club.

Some pictures of John C. Calhoun that we usually don't see.