As she returned to Congress in January 2021, Dick Cheney embraced then-Wyoming U. S. Rep. Liz Cheney and shared some guidance.
“Defend the republic, daughter,” the former Republican vice president advised his daughter.
She took that to heart, confronting President Donald Trump, who was spreading false claims about voter fraud costing him the 2020 presidential election. This stance came with a heavy price. She lost her seat in the U. S. House of Representatives and her role as a significant figure in Republican politics.
But most importantly, she continues to face personal attacks and untrue accusations from a vengeful president. Plus, she still deals with threats of investigation by the Justice Department for co-chairing a special House committee that revealed Trump’s role in an effort to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power leading to the shocking attack by Trump supporters on America’s Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
I imagine Cheney, William & Mary’s 2026 Hunter B. Andrews Fellow who spoke to students, faculty, and the public at the school Wednesday night, receives plenty of hate mail too.
However, when a W& M student asked Cheney if she felt any ambivalence or regrets about her choices, Cheney gave an answer many of her Republican colleagues seem afraid to acknowledge.
“It wasn’t a choice,” she stated.
This crucial election season requires every American to reflect on what Cheney-now a professor of practice at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics-already understands. Defending our republic against lies that incite violence aimed at undermining our democratic process is something all Americans must do, especially its leaders.
According to Cheney, those leaders were missing from her party during this critical moment. She specifically criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc Connell for condemning Trump over the Capitol incident but not voting for his impeachment. In Cheney’s view, others would have likely followed his example. Instead, many Republicans in both houses became enablers of Trump’s actions which set him up for another term.
Cheney spoke as a staunch conservative Republican with credentials to back it up. Advocating for strong defense policies, balanced budgets, law enforcement support and low taxes, she played an important role within the House Republican Caucus and worked for USAID during George W. Bush’s presidency. She recalled how she once expressed frustration to a conservative mentor about having liberal professors while studying at Colorado College. He interrupted her complaint saying it was vital to understand how and why opposing viewpoints think as they do.
Civility doesn’t mean conversion-that was one point that Cheney emphasized at William & Mary where they’re launching a civic leadership program.
This initiative is long overdue in a country overwhelmed by civic ignorance fueled by dishonesty and divisive rhetoric from leaders who disregard constitutional rights while encouraging their followers as they assault someone wearing a “Release the Epstein Files” t-shirt at a Republican rally event. Those are Trump’s followers-they increase national debt while criticizing immigrants and flirt with white supremacy and sexism.
If they succeed politically, true conservatives like Cheney will find no place left within the Grand Old Party.
Cheney shared with attendees at William & Mary that her biggest regret was supporting Trump initially. She voted for him in both 2016 and 2020 thinking he had what it took to respect democracy but after seeing his behavior following his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 changed her perspective completely. After witnessing what happened on Capitol Hill that day made it clear just how much danger our nation faced so she defied him-keeping her promise made to her father-and sacrificed her political career for it.
Soon we’ll find out if her example motivates enough people to help preserve democracy.
Jim Spencer of Williamsburg began his career at The Virginia Gazette in 1975 before working with several other publications including Chicago Tribune, Denver Post, Minnesota Star Tribune, Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot.
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