George W. Bush, Liz Cheney eulogize former VP

Former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral service was held on Thursday at Washington National Cathedral, where more than 1,000 guests, including family members, former Presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden, all four living former vice presidents and assorted dignitaries gathered to pay their final respects.

Cheney died on Nov. 3 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, according to his family. He was 84.

Bush; Cheney’s daughter, former congresswoman Liz Cheney; cardiologist Jonathan Reiner; Pete Williams, Cheney’s former spokesman and ex-NBC News justice correspondent; and several of Cheney’s grandchildren delivered eulogies.

Bush recalled the moment he concluded that Cheney, whom he had tapped to lead the search for a running mate, was his choice for VP.

“I began to have a thought I could not shake: I realized the best choice for vice president was the man sitting right in front of me,” Bush said.

Bush also revealed that during their 2004 reelection campaign, Cheney offered to step aside to allow him to pick a different running mate, but Bush refused: “I arrived at the conclusion they do not come any better than Dick Cheney,” he said.

Calling Cheney a “true man of the West,” Bush concluded his eulogy by saying: “We are grateful for his good life, we honor his service, and we pray that somewhere up the trail, we will meet him again.”

Liz Cheney recalled the last moments she spent with her father, who she described as “a giant to the end” and a “lion of a man who loved and served this great republic.”

President Trump, who clashed with both Liz and Dick Cheney, and Vice President JD Vance were reportedly not invited to attend the service.

Cheney is considered one of the most powerful and divisive vice presidents in U.S. history for his role in pushing the 2003 invasion of Iraq after 9/11, his advocacy for the waterboarding of detainees and his aggressive efforts to expand presidential power.

Before becoming vice president, Cheney served as defense secretary from 1989 to 1993, under President George H.W. Bush. He spent 10 years in Congress representing Wyoming’s at-large congressional district from 1979 to 1989. He also served as chief of staff for President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977.

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Cover thumbnail photo: Matt Rourke/AP