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As the polls opened in many East Coast cities on Election Day, word began to spread that former U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney had passed away from pneumonia and cardiac disease at the age of 84. He was one of the most polarizing and powerful figures in the history of Beltway politics, serving under four Presidents in various positions, including Secretary of Defense for George H.W. Bush and, ultimately, as Vice-President for George W. Bush. WOR White House correspondent Jon Decker covered a significant portion of Cheney’s time spent in Washington; he appeared on 710 WOR’s Mendte in the Morning program to remember the 46th Vice-President of the United States.
Decker, who has covered the Oval Office for over 30 years, summed up Cheney’s philosophy on a life in public service that began over 50 years ago, telling host Larry Mendte: “He liked to be in the background. He never considered running for President himself. He preferred to make policy; that’s where he derived his enjoyment. That’s where he derived his focus on serving the public, and public service was a part of his life for most of his life… his daughter, Liz Cheney, also involved in politics. She, too, represented Wyoming, like Dick Cheney did. Dick Cheney was once just a US Congressman from Wyoming before he was elevated to the position of Defense Secretary under George H.W. Bush.”
Decker noted that one of the reasons that Cheney was so effective at the many posts he held in D.C. was that he did not care what others thought of his style or feelings, as long as he got the job done: “I think his entire life proves it. He was never concerned about public opinion; in fact, when he was the lone congressman from Wyoming, all he focused on was serving his constituents from Wyoming… and then as Vice-President to George W. Bush, also playing a role in the background, advising President Bush, particularly after 9/11.”
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