Lynne Cheney: His Best Interests at Heart

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

Lynne Cheney will be on the stage of the Republican National Convention in her role as the vice president’s wife. Yet her long resume and aggressive service in the culture wars made her a name in the nation’s capital long before the 2000 election.


Aside from the candidates actually accepting the nomination, she is the only public conservative to win a coveted prime-time slot at the convention. And unlike most political spouses, she would be well equipped to take the national stage even if her husband weren’t the vice president. She has taken on both Eminem and the flailing national education system as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1986-93.


She also represents a woman who has become comfortable with success: She easily maneuvers between being a markedly successful career woman, a supportive wife, and a mother adroitly raising and protecting her children in the public eye. On the platform tonight Lynne Cheney represents how far a brilliant woman can go in America.


In 2000,Washington insiders thought they might be getting yet another political wife who could overshadow her husband – like the polarizing figure of Hillary Clinton as first lady. At the time, William Bennett praised Mrs. Cheney as “hard to muzzle.”


She has kept her career – she is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and has written seven books – and is, in fact, the first presidential or vice-presidential wife to ever work outside of her official duties. (She is on leave from AEI until the campaign ends.) As first lady, Hillary Clinton maneuvered an appointment as head of the Health Care Task Force and later parlayed her status as first lady into a Senate career. By contrast, Mrs. Cheney has strenuously avoided using the limelight to advance herself.


With her background in education reform, the rumor mill was sure that she would be President Bush’s Secretary of Education – her name had been thrown around in 1990 as well – but with a skill that would be used often during the next four years, Mrs. Cheney quickly dismissed the rumors.


She has an uncanny ability to diffuse drama and as such is a tremendous campaign asset. In 2000, she quickly quieted the media storm gathering around her lesbian daughter, Mary, when she informed Cokie Roberts: “Mary has never declared such a thing. I have two wonderful daughters … and I simply am not going to talk about their personal lives.”


Since her husband took office, she has been far less than controversial. Part of this is due to the changing times. With the war against terror, the “culture wars” have taken a back seat. According to Michael Novak, director of religion and public policy at AEI “She’s just a little bundle of dynamite. She’s not afraid of controversy.” However, he continues: “She is used to public speaking. She doesn’t get involved in unnecessary controversy.”


The Cheneys are part of the stalwart team that provides key support and loyalty to President Bush. It is a role the couple have been practicing with each other for 40 years.


When Lynne was throwing fire batons at Natrona County High School, Dick waited in the wings to put them out. When she was on the frontlines of the culture war with NEH, the secretary of defense was cooking dinner and doing the laundry. Now that he’s vice president, she does her part to quell media storms and soften his image. George Bush can depend on Mr. Cheney because he knows the vice president has the president’s best interests foremost at all times. Likewise, Lynne Cheney has her husband’s best interests at heart, and it shows.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use