A Moment of Surprise on the House Floor
On the first anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, lawmakers gathered for a moment of silence. Most were masked due to COVID-19 precautions, making it difficult to identify one another.
Former Rep. Adam Schiff recalled standing next to Liz Cheney as she spoke with an “older gentleman.”
Only when introduced did Schiff realize he was standing beside former Vice President Dick Cheney.
“I didn’t recognize you with the mask,” Schiff recalled saying. Despite years of political combat, he shook Cheney’s hand and thanked him for being present on such a solemn occasion.
From Political Opponent to Unexpected Ally
For many Americans who lived through the George W. Bush administration, the sight of Democrats thanking Dick Cheney would once have seemed unthinkable.
Cheney, a powerful vice president from 2001 to 2009, was long criticized by Democrats for:
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Promoting the Iraq War
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Defending harsh interrogation tactics
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Supporting expanded domestic surveillance
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Using aggressive national security policies post-9/11
Yet in his final years, the Dick Cheney legacy and Democrats story changed dramatically.
Many on the left came to praise Cheney—not for policy alignment, but for his outspoken opposition to Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 attack.
Rep. Steny Hoyer said the moment on the House floor revealed a softer side of Cheney:
“The human side of Dick, which was sometimes well hidden, was on display.”
Pelosi and Cheney: From Fierce Battles to Mutual Respect
As House speaker during the Iraq War era, Nancy Pelosi clashed repeatedly with Cheney. She called the Iraq invasion “a war of choice” and a “grotesque mistake.”
The two symbolized opposite ends of the political battlefield.
But decades later, Pelosi appointed Liz Cheney to the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot—an action that drew admiration across party lines.
After Dick Cheney attended the 2022 House remembrance of Jan. 6, Pelosi publicly honored him:
“Dick Cheney was a patriotic American who loved his country… While we strongly disagreed on most issues, his patriotism was clear.”
Cheney’s National Security Legacy
Long before the Jan. 6 hearings reshaped his public image, Cheney played major roles in two American wars:
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He oversaw the Persian Gulf War as Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush.
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After 9/11, he became one of the primary architects behind the Afghanistan and Iraq invasions.
Cheney’s tough-minded worldview earned him the nickname “Darth Vader,” a label he embraced.
One memorable clash occurred in 2007 when Cheney said Pelosi’s opposition to a troop surge would “validate the al Qaeda strategy.” Pelosi fired back, calling the remark an insult to American troops.
A Shift After Leaving Office
After 2009, Cheney maintained a lower public profile, writing books and offering commentary. Though he initially endorsed Donald Trump in 2016, his stance shifted sharply after the Jan. 6 attack.
By 2024, Cheney endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, calling Trump the greatest threat to the republic he had ever seen.
His daughter Liz Cheney took a similar path:
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She was one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after Jan. 6.
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She called Trump “clearly unfit” for office.
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She pressed the Justice Department to prosecute him for attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
A Family Marked by Service and Principle
In her tribute, Pelosi highlighted Cheney’s pride in watching Liz follow his footsteps:
“We all saw how proud Vice President Cheney was to see his daughter serve with courage and integrity.”
She offered condolences to Cheney’s wife Lynne and daughters Liz and Mary, noting the broad support and prayers being sent during their time of loss.
Conclusion: A Complicated Legacy, Remembered Differently
The Dick Cheney legacy and Democrats tells a nuanced story of American politics.
Though long seen as a Republican hardliner, Cheney’s final years recast him as a defender of democratic institutions—even among former adversaries.
In an era of deep partisan divides, his transformation underscores how principles can sometimes matter more than party lines.
