Bush praises former vice president as ‘thinker and listener’ at funeral

Democrats and Republicans gathered in Washington to mourn former US Vice President Dick Cheney at his funeral.

Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001-09, died in early November of complications from pneumonia and cardiovascular disease. He is 84 years old.

“In a profession that attracts talkers, he was a thinker and a listener,” Bush, a Republican, said in his eulogy. Democratic former President Joe Biden also attended.

Cheney, one of the most powerful vice presidents in history, was a key architect of Bush’s “war on terror” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and an early advocate of the invasion of Iraq.

During Thursday’s ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral, Bush revealed that during the tough 2004 re-election campaign, Cheney had offered to withdraw from the race.

“I came to the conclusion that they were no better than Dick Cheney,” Bush told mourners.

He said Cheney was “everything a president should be as the No. 2 man.”

Cheney has fallen out of favor within the Republican Party in recent years for condemning President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.

Trump also feuded with Cheney’s daughter, former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney.

His daughter paid tribute to him on Thursday, reflecting on her father’s legacy.

“He knew that the bonds of party must always yield to the single bond we all share as Americans,” she said. “For him, the choice between defending the Constitution and defending the party is not a choice at all.”

Both Cheneys supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in last year’s White House election.

Harris attended the funeral along with other former US Vice Presidents Mike Pence and Al Gore.

Trump and Vice President Vance did not attend. Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were also Democrats.