Cheney is the Ultimate A-Lister, 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 Gerald Ford when Cheney was 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 to 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 shores up some empty spots in the resume of presidential candidate George W. Bush. It may also 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 the Reagan 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 the Superfund toxic clean up money.

Cheney amassed some power as he advanced to the number three leadership position in the House back when dreams of a Republican speaker seemed unattainable. He resigned the safe seat he could probably have held for life when President George Bush needed a Defense secretary, quick. His first Congressional choice, flamboyant Texas Senator John Tower, dissolved into 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, Cheney never served in the military. His draft deferrments 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.

The Pentagon Years