On Background: Cheney, Credentials Without the Ego

W A S H I N G T O N, July 25 -- Dick Cheney is the ultimate, A-list Washington insider — elected to Congress for more than a decade, appointed to four years as secretary of defense just in time to wage a war. He even started at the top: chief of staff to President Ford at barely 34 years old.

Such credentials might stoke the ego of most Washington figures, but Cheney has always kept his under control.

He’s no show-horse. Friends and opponents alike describe the 59-year old as solid, serious, and very likeable.

Cheney’s quiet, unassuming figure brings to the Republican presidential ticket a “gravitas” that fills in some empty spots in the resume of presidential candidate George W. Bush. But it also may be a record that will give Democrats ample grounds to attack the team’s conservative policies.

Conservative Credentials

His record in Congress already has Democrats pointing to a pattern of socially-conservative votes, supporting President Reagan’s reforms and budget-cutting. At some moments, Cheney even broke with the mainstream, one of only 12 House members to cast a vote against the Older Americans Act of 1984 and one of a small group opposing an appropriation for Head Start. On the environment, Cheney repeatedly opposed Superfund toxic clean up money.

Cheney amassed power as he advanced to the No. 3 leadership position in the House during a time when dreams of a Republican speaker controlling the House seemed unattainable. But he resigned the safe seat, one he probably could have held for life, when President Bush needed a defense secretary, and quick.

Bush’s first congressional choice, flamboyant Texas Sen. John Tower, imploded in a long, losing battle. By comparison, the sober, serious young congressman from Wyoming was an easy sell.

Cheney was confirmed despite the fact that in the Vietnam era, he had never served in the military. His draft deferments came twice because he was a college or graduate student, a third time because he was supporting a family with small children. Cheney said later he would have served if called but had different “priorities” at that point.