Though he was

Where

Though he was inspired to service by President Kennedy,

Dick Cheney became a Republican.

But he knew that bonds of party must always yield

to the single bond we share as Americans. For him, a choice

between defense of the Constitution and defense of your political party was no choice at all.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney who died on November 3rd of complications from pneumonia and cardiac and

vascular disease, was remembered this week during a National Cathedral Memorial, most known

for his support of the Iraq War where no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.

He also earned a reputation as a fierce detractor when it came to President Donald Trump.

He tried to steal the last election, using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him.

What will his legacy be?

Hello and welcome to USA Today's The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Friday, November 21st, 2025. Despite having never held the highest office in the land, there was a time when the Republican Party was Dick Cheney's party. Here to break down the complicated legacy of the former vice president is USA Today Washington Bureau Chief,

Susan Page. It's so good to have you, Susan.

It's so good to be with you.

First, who spoke at the former vice president's memorial service?

Former President George W. Bush gave a eulogy there, definitely one of the big speeches for the event. His daughter,

Liz Cheney, who had succeeded him as a member of Congress from Wyoming, also spoke. Pete Williams,

who had been one of Dick Cheney's top aides when he was Defense Secretary, and then later

went on to a career as a journalist at NBC also spoke.

We heard from his doctor, Jonathan Reiner, his doctor was important in Dick Cheney's life.

...