Bush, Biden joke and praise Cheney at his bust unveiling
By Eugene Scott, CNN
Updated
4:14 PM EST, Thu December 3, 2015
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Story highlights
Republican leaders attended Dick Cheney bust unveiling
Cheney's wife Lynne and grandchildren unveiled the bust
(CNN) —
At a ceremony that took on the air of a Republican family reunion complete with laughs, hugs and selfies, Dick Cheney was hailed Thursday as his bust was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol.
Former President George W. Bush repeatedly highlighted Cheney’s accomplishments in his administration and said he was especially grateful that Cheney decided to be his vice president – after initially heading the vice presidential search committee.
#5 Best: Dick Cheney —
Dick Cheney has been called the most powerful and influential vice president in American history. As the head of George W. Bush's vice-presidential search team in the 2000 campaign, Cheney brought decades of Washington experience to the White House and was heavily involved in most of the president's major decisions during his two terms.
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#4 Best: Richard Nixon —
Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower's VP pick in 1952, Richard Nixon, brought youth -- and California -- with him when he joined the campaign. The ideal running mate for the 62-year-old, Nixon balanced the ticket geographically and helped unite the Republican Party. But barely two months after the GOP convention, the New York Post published a story reporting that Nixon had established a "millionaire's club" to help pay his political expenses through huge donations from California businessmen.
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#3 Best: Al Gore —
Another Washington insider, Al Gore, and his father both served as senators from Tennessee. Gore brought beltway know-how to a ticket featuring a little-known governor from Arkansas -- Bill Clinton. The bright and experienced Gore became Clinton's right-hand man and was critical to securing the election.
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#2 Best: George H.W. Bush —
After running against Ronald Reagan in the 1980 primaries, George H.W. Bush joined Reagan on the ticket and helped unite the Republican Party by balancing the ticket ideologically. Bush's background as a businessman, U.S. representative, United Nations ambassador, chairman of the Republican National Committee, diplomat to China, CIA director and presidential contender made him one of the most experienced vice presidents ever.
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#1 Best: Lyndon B. Johnson —
Texas native Lyndon Johnson's southern roots helped John F. Kennedy carry the South and win the presidential election. As Senate majority leader, Johnson surprised everyone by accepting the VP position in 1962. To appease liberal Democrats, Kennedy's brother Robert Kennedy tried to talk the Texan out of the position, but Johnson refused, declaring, "I want to be vice president, and, if the president will have me, I'll join him in making a fight for it." After Kennedy's death, Johnson transitioned smoothly into his new role as leader of the nation. He went on to pass landmark civil rights legislation and was elected in his own right by a landslide.
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#5 Worst: Sarah Palin —
Sarah Palin seemed like a good idea at the time. The energetic governor from Alaska brought a jolt of enthusiasm and excitement to the Republican campaign of John McCain. But Palin's inexperience on the national stage left her seemingly ill-prepared. She made clumsy comments that were pounced on by the media -- including an awkward interview where she could not name any newspapers that she reads.
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#4 Worst: Geraldine Ferraro —
Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman to run on a major party national ticket in U.S. history. The New York congresswoman seemed prepared to run with Walter Mondale, but a televised VP debate against George H. W. Bush highlighted her inexperience. Ferraro was constantly bombarded with questions about her finances (her husband was a wealthy realtor and businessman) and targeted because of her gender. Barbara Bush once called her a "$4 million -- I can't say it, but it rhymes with rich."
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#3 Worst: Spiro Agnew —
A first-term governor of Maryland and virtually unknown on the national stage, Spiro Agnew was drafted by Richard Nixon, ahead of GOP giants like Ronald Reagan and Nelson Rockefeller, because Nixon didn't want to be outshined by his running mate. Agnew made a number of gaffes on the campaign trail, including calling a Japanese reporter a "fat Jap." After taking office, he pleaded no contest to tax evasion and money laundering while governor. Later, Agnew made history by becoming the only U.S. vice president to resign his office while under criminal investigation.
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#2 Worst: Dan Quayle —
Dan Quayle was supposed to become the Republican JFK, but instead to many he was a laughingstock. During the 1988 vice presidential debate, Democratic Sen. Lloyd Bentsen leveled a famous blow to Quayle, "Senator, I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. You're no Jack Kennedy." Quayle became the butt of frequent jokes, and many Americans never let him live down the incident where he misspelled the word "potato" at an elementary school spelling bee.
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#1 Worst: Thomas Eagle —
Thomas Eagleton was a respected senator from Missouri when he was chosen to be Democratic nominee George McGovern's running mate. But after his selection was announced, reports emerged that he had been hospitalized for depression a decade earlier and made reference to electro-shock therapy. After only 18 days on the ticket, McGovern asked Eagleton to step down. The race became an embarrassing slaughter when McGovern and replacement running mate Sargent Shriver won only one state in the general election.
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“For eight years, Dick stood by my side and always did what was right for our nation. I could not ask for a better vice president than Dick Cheney,” Bush said. “He’s a good man who loves his country and really loves his family.”
Before leaving Texas, Bush told his father, former President George H.W. Bush, that he was attending Cheney’s bust unveiling.
“Dad perked up and he said, ‘Send my best regards to old iron ass’,” Bush said in a reference to how the former president had referred to Cheney in a recently published book. “Dick that is indeed a badge of honor.”
Bush also cracked up the crowd of several hundred when he said, “I must confess I’m somewhat reluctant to come back to Washington. The last time I showed up here I was hanged in the White House. This time I’ve returned only to find my vice president getting busted in the capital.”
Cheney’s wife, Lynne, and grandchildren did the honors of unveiling the bust in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Emancipation Hall. The tradition of busts of former vice presidents being placed in the Capitol dates back to the 1800’s. Cheney’s bust was sculpted by William Behrends, according to the Architect of the Capitol.
Vice President Joe Biden was also in attendance – and drew laughs with his comments about Cheney.
“As I look around this room and up on the platform, I want to say thank you for letting me crash your family reunion,” Biden said. “I’m afraid I’ve blown his cover. I actually like Dick Cheney.”
Sen. Roy Blunt praised Cheney as a highly influential voice long before he presided over the Senate, where vice presidents can also cast a tie-breaking vote.
“Dick Cheney is the only minority whip who never lost a vote, because the president’s father asked him to be Secretary of Defense before he could ever whip a vote,” the Missouri Republican said.
House Speaker Paul Ryan praised Cheney for developing strong relationships among Republicans of all stripes over the years.
“The list of people who he knew and people who he befriended is like a who’s who of the conservative movement,” he said. “He moved among giants in American politics. He is one himself.”
In return, Cheney touted Ryan as the best selection to lead the House before making a quip about Ryan, who ran unsuccessfully for vice president.
“He’s lately become a reminder to me that we don’t always get exactly what we want in politics,” Cheney said. “You got the job with actual power and authority. And I got a very nice marble bust.”
In his remarks, Cheney also had warm words for George W. Bush.
“I worked for someone I respected and liked without reservation. He’s a man of great strength and also gentleness,” he said. “There is none I prize more than to have my name alongside George W. Bush.”
