George W. Bush and Liz Cheney Lead Eulogies at Dick Cheney’s Funeral at Washington National Cathedral

More than 1,000 invited guests gathered at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday to honor former Vice President Dick Cheney, who died Nov. 3 at age 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.

Speakers at the invitation-only service included former President George W. Bush; Cheney’s daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, who delivered the final eulogy; Dr. Jonathan Reiner, Cheney’s cardiologist; Pete Williams, Cheney’s former aide and longtime correspondent; and several of Cheney’s grandchildren. The Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith delivered the homily, and Rev. Sean Rowe recited a Bible passage as the casket was placed before the altar.

Personal remembrances blended with moments of levity and deep emotion. Bush recounted how he came to select Cheney as his running mate, saying he ultimately realized “the best choice for vice president was the man sitting right in front of me,” and recalled lighter family anecdotes shared by Cheney’s grandchildren about show-and-tell visits and rodeo trips. Liz Cheney described her father as “a giant to the end” and a “lion of a man who loved and served this great Republic,” recounting a final, private scene in which the sky above her parents’ home seemed filled with angelic shapes and her father’s last words to his wife, “I love you.” She closed with the family’s farewell: “Goodnight, sweet Dad. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Voices from the podium included Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who said he had seen a side of Cheney that the public rarely did and called him unassuming, and Pete Williams, who shared lighthearted stories about Cheney’s love of Wyoming and fly-fishing. Several grandchildren — Elizabeth Perry, Richard Perry and Grace Perry — offered intimate memories of road trips, classroom visits and rodeo days that showed a private, family side of the former vice president.

Ceremony and music featured performances by the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, the Cathedral Choir and the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra. William Steffe’s "Battle Hymn of the Republic" accompanied Cheney’s casket as it was carried down the center aisle to conclude the service.

Legacy and controversies — Cheney’s decades-long career in government included service as White House chief of staff (1975–1977), U.S. representative for Wyoming (1979–1989), secretary of defense (1989–1993) and two terms as vice president (2001–2009). He is widely regarded as one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in modern U.S. history. Supporters praised his commitment to national security and steady stewardship; critics highlighted his role in advocating for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, aggressive counterterrorism tactics including interrogation techniques many describe as torture, expanded electronic surveillance, and scrutiny over his post-government ties to Halliburton.

Politics and protocol — Photographs and attendees' lists showed former Presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden, and all four living former vice presidents. Reports said President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance were not invited; the White House did not issue a formal presidential proclamation marking Cheney’s death, though flags were lowered to half-staff in accordance with statutory requirements.

Throughout the service speakers balanced public achievements and private memories, portraying a complex figure whose public influence and controversies will shape how he is remembered in American history. Family members, friends and former colleagues gathered to give final thanks for a life of service and to celebrate the personal bonds that defined Cheney’s private life.