Dick Cheney

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

Early political career

Early White House appointments

Dick Cheney's public service career began under the Nixon administration in 1969. He served in a number of positions at the Cost of Living Council, at the United States Office of Economic Opportunity (as a special assistant to Donald Rumsfeld beginning in the spring of 1969), and within the White House. Under President Gerald Ford, Cheney became Assistant to the President and the youngest White House Chief of Staff in history. He was campaign manager for Ford's 1976 presidential campaign, while James Baker served as campaign chairman.

Related Topics:
Nixon - 1969 - United States Office of Economic Opportunity - Donald Rumsfeld - White House - Gerald Ford - White House Chief of Staff - 1976 - James Baker

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Congress

Cheney was elected to represent Wyoming in the U.S. House of Representatives to replace Teno Roncalio, who had resigned from Congress. He defeated his Democratic opponent, Bill Bagley, in the 1978 midterm elections. Cheney was reelected five times, serving until 1989. He was Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee from 1981 to 1987 when he was elected Chairman of the House Republican Conference. The following year, he was elected House Minority Whip.

Related Topics:
Wyoming - U.S. House of Representatives - 1989 - 1981 - 1987 - House Republican Conference - House Minority Whip

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Among the many votes he cast during his tenure in the House, he voted in 1979 with the majority against making Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday, and again voted with the majority in 1983 when the measure passed.

Related Topics:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - National holiday

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He voted against the creation of the U.S. Department of Education, citing his concern over budget deficits and expansion of the federal government. He also believed it to be an encroachment to state´s rights.http://www.issues2000.org/2004/Dick_Cheney_Education.htm

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In 1986, after President Reagan vetoed a bill to impose economic sanctions against South Africa for its official policy of apartheid, Cheney was one of 83 Representatives who voted against overriding the veto. In later years, Cheney articulated his opposition to "unilateral sanctions," against many different countries, stating "they almost never work."http://www.cato.org/speeches/sp-dc062398.html He also opposed unilateral sanctions against communist Cuba, and later in his career he would support multilateral sanctions against Iraq. However the comparison to Cuba is not exactly apt, as the European Community had voted to place limited sanctions upon South Africa in 1986.

Related Topics:
Reagan - Veto - South Africa - Apartheid - Cuba - Iraq

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In 1986, Cheney, along with 145 Republicans and 31 Democrats, voted against a nonbinding Congressional resolution calling on the South African government to release Nelson Mandela from prison, after the majority Democrats defeated proposed amendments to the language that would have required Mandela to renounce violence sponsored by the ANC and requiring the ANC to oust the Communist faction from leadership. The resolution was defeated.http://www.nationalreview.com/convention/guest_comment/guest_commentprint073100c.html Appearing on CNN during the Presidential campaign in 2000, Cheney addressed criticism for this, saying he opposed the resolution because the ANC "at the time was viewed as a terrorist organization and had a number of interests that were fundamentally inimical to the United States."http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/30/talk.wrap/index.html

Related Topics:
Nelson Mandela - ANC - Communist - Presidential campaign in 2000

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As a Wyoming representative, he was also known for his vigorous advocacy of the state's petroleum and coal businesses. The federal building in Casper, a regional center of the oil and coal business, was named the "Dick Cheney Federal Building" for him.

Related Topics:
Petroleum - Coal - Casper

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Cabinet

Cheney served as the Secretary of Defense from March 1989 to January 1993 under President George H. W. Bush. He directed Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East. In 1991 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for "preserving America's defenses at a time of great change around the world."

Related Topics:
Secretary of Defense - March - 1989 - January - 1993 - George H. W. Bush - Operation Just Cause - Operation Desert Storm - 1991 - Presidential Medal of Freedom

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