The funeral of former US Vice President Dick Cheney became a stark display of America's political schisms, as Washington's elite gathered to pay their respects while pointedly excluding certain figures.
A Gathering of Political Heavyweights
The National Cathedral in Washington DC hosted a remarkable congregation of political power on Thursday, bringing together figures from across the political spectrum to honour Dick Cheney. The service saw former President George W Bush deliver a heartfelt eulogy for his former deputy, who passed away earlier this month at 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac disease.
Among the distinguished attendees were former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, former President George W Bush and Laura Bush, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen Pence. The gathering included all other living former vice presidents - Al Gore and Dan Quayle - alongside former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Notable Absences Speak Volumes
The most conspicuous absence was former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance, who did not receive invitations to the service according to White House officials familiar with the matter. This exclusion came as little surprise given the long-standing animosity between Trump and Cheney's daughter, Liz Cheney.
Liz Cheney, the former Republican congresswoman, served as vice-chair of the House January 6 committee and was intensely critical of Trump's role in the Capitol riot. Her Republican credentials and status as the third-ranking House GOP member lent crucial credibility to the committee's investigation, prompting Trump to endorse her primary challenger in the 2022 midterm elections.
Other notable absentees included former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, with Clinton's spokesperson citing an unavoidable scheduling conflict.
A Political Legacy Remembered
Dick Cheney's political career spanned decades, beginning as a 28-year-old special assistant to Donald Rumsfeld in the Nixon administration. He became the youngest White House chief of staff at 34 under President Gerald Ford before serving ten years in the US House of Representatives, where he rose to House minority whip.
Cheney later served as Defense Secretary under George HW Bush, overseeing US operations during the Persian Gulf War. His selection as George W Bush's running mate in the 2000 election victory over Al Gore cemented his position as one of America's most influential vice presidents.
During his tenure as vice president, Cheney helped direct the US response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, championed expanded government surveillance powers, and was instrumental in pushing for the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a remarkable political shift that illustrated changing alliances, both Dick and Liz Cheney endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 election - a move that would have been unthinkable during Cheney's time as vice president. Harris ultimately lost to Trump last November, securing the Republican his second term in office.
The service also featured an unexpected attendee in liberal MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, further highlighting the complex political realignments that have characterized contemporary American politics.
