Dick Cheney's Final Act: A Legacy of Imperial Power or Patriotic Duty?

Former Vice President Dick Cheney's legacy has been a subject of debate among politicians and scholars, with some arguing that his final act was a testament to his commitment to patriotism, while others see it as a culmination of his lifelong work in promoting autocracy. Cheney, who passed away on Monday, made headlines in 2024 when he urged voters to elect then-Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, over Donald Trump, a Republican, in the presidential election. In a rare display of bipartisanship, Cheney warned that Trump could never be trusted with power again, citing the former president's use of lies and violence to maintain his grip on power after losing the 2020 election. According to Ian Millhiser, a senior correspondent at Vox, Cheney's decision to endorse Harris was a reflection of his commitment to principle over party. "Cheney's final political act was a testament to his patriotism," Millhiser said. "He was willing to put country over party, even if it meant going against his own party's nominee." However, others argue that Trump's imperial presidency owes a great deal to Cheney's own policies and actions during his time in office. As Vice President under George W. Bush, Cheney played a key role in shaping the administration's approach to national security and executive power. His advocacy for the use of torture and his support for the expansion of executive authority have been widely criticized by civil liberties groups and scholars. "Cheney's legacy is complex and multifaceted," said University of California, Berkeley, law professor John Yoo, who served as a lawyer in the Bush administration. "While he was a strong advocate for executive power, he also believed in the importance of a strong national defense and the need for the president to take bold action in times of crisis." Despite Cheney's criticisms of Trump, the former president's second term in office has been marked by a significant expansion of executive power, including the use of executive orders to bypass Congress and the appointment of conservative judges to the federal bench. As the debate over Cheney's legacy continues, many are left to wonder what his final thoughts on the matter might have been. While we may never know for certain, one thing is clear: Cheney's commitment to principle and his willingness to challenge his own party's nominee in the 2024 election will be remembered as a testament to his enduring legacy.