Liz Cheney Biography

Born on July 28, 1966, in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S., Elizabeth Lynne Cheney is the elder daughter of former U.S. vice-president Dick Cheney and author, scholar, and former talk-show host Lynne Vincent. Her younger sister, Mary Cheney, is associated with several political action groups.

Liz Cheney attended schools in Casper, Wyoming. She was a cheerleader at the 'McLean High School,' from where she graduated in 1984. Cheney completed her BA from 'Colorado College.' Her senior thesis, submitted in 1988, was titled 'The Evolution of Presidential War Powers.' She then graduated from the 'University of Chicago Law School' in 1996. Cheney also studied Middle Eastern history at the 'Oriental Institute.'

Cheney worked as a staff at the ‘United States Department of State’ for 5 years before joining the 'University of Chicago Law School.' She then served the 'United States Agency for International Development.' She quit in 1993 and joined the consulting firm 'Armitage Associates LLP.'

After receiving her Juris Doctor, Cheney began her law career working at the law firm 'White & Case' and the 'International Finance Corporation.' She was an international law attorney and consultant at the latter, from 1999 to 2002.

In 2002, Cheney served the ‘United States Department of State’ as the deputy assistant secretary of state for ‘Near Eastern Affairs.’ With reference to her appointment as an officer serving the ‘United States Agency for International Development’ and deployed in Budapest and Warsaw, ‘The New York Times' stated that the position was created to get her hired at the agency. According to ‘State Department’ spokesman Richard Boucher, the then-secretary of state, Colin Powell, had recommended her. In that capacity, she presided over the 'Middle East Partnership Initiative.'

In 2003, Liz Cheney stepped down from her ‘State Department’ post and endorsed the 'W Stands for Women' initiative to bring in more women voters to her father's 2004 re-election campaign.

In February 2005, the ‘U.S. State Department’ appointed her as the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for ‘Near Eastern Affairs.’

The assistant secretary of state for ‘Near Eastern Affairs,’ C. David Welch, made several collaborative efforts to promote democracy and expand various opportunities in the Middle East and Northern Africa, all of which Cheney supported as the coordinator for 'Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiatives.'

Cheney had a crucial role in the establishment of the semi-independent foundations named the 'Fund of the Future' and the 'Foundation of the Future.' The prime motive of the foundations was to aid small-scale businesses and give maximum freedom to the media and democracy. She also authorized a draft to form a new Iraqi constitution.

The 'Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs' established the 'Iran Syria Policy and Operations Group' (ISOG) in March 2006 and appointed Cheney to lead it. The unit later collaborated with the 'International Republican Institute' for a highly controversial grant program. The following month, 'The New York Times' criticized her works related to Iran and Syria, saying that the unit's covert action could trigger a war. The group was hence closed by May.

In June 2007, the 2008 ‘Republican’ candidate Fred Thompson chose Cheney as one of the three co-chairs of his presidential campaign.

On January 27, 2008, Liz Cheney announced herself as the senior foreign policy advisor for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

In 2009, in an interview with ‘MSNBC,’ Cheney opposed the law banning gay marriages. She even said that the federal authorities should provide extra-legal benefits to homosexual couples. Even though her statement was ambiguous and did not clearly state whether she supported gay marriages or not, Cheney said that states, and not the federal authorities, should decide on the issue.

Cheney's take on homosexuality stirred controversy. A conservative group attacked her with an ad produced by the 'American Principles Fund.'

Many viewed Cheney's stance on gay marriages as her support to her sister, Mary, who was in a relationship with Heather Poe back then. The two got married in 2012.

In October 2009, Cheney, neoconservative political analyst William Kristol, and political activist Deborah Burlingame teamed up to launch the non-profit organization 'Keep America Safe.' The three served on its board of directors. The motive of the establishment was to update citizens about national security issues. The foundation drew a lot of criticism, especially from the conservative lawyers. Soon after, all information regarding the organization was erased from the internet.

Cheney released her book 'In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir,' co-written with her father, in August 2011.

In January 2012, Liz Cheney joined 'Fox News' and guest-hosted 'Hannity' and 'Fox News Sunday.' After she announced her run for the ‘Senate’ in Wyoming as a ‘Republican,’ against the then-incumbent ‘Republican’ senator, Mike Enzi, the following year, the network terminated her contract in July 2013.

Cheney's campaign was heavily criticized, majorly because of a complete change in her attitude toward same-sex marriages. As stated on 'Fox News Sunday,' she and Mary had never agreed on gay marriages, thus triggering a spat between the two. The Cheney family drama was revealed to the public, and that heavily impacted Cheney's campaign.

While Mary lambasted her sister for opposing gay marriages, their parents, supported Cheney. They even tried to clarify the relationship between the sisters, stating that Cheney had always loved and respected Mary's family.

Meanwhile, the criticism benefited Enzi, and Cheney's campaign eventually weakened. On January 6, 2014, she withdrew her candidature, citing family health issues.

In 2016, Cheney announced her run for the position of the U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district, after the Cynthia Lummis announced her retirement from the post in 2015. Oil industry businessman Simon Kukes aided her campaign.

After she assumed her duties in January 2017, Cheney co-sponsored a bill that removed grey wolves from the 'Endangered Species Act.' As the 115th ‘Congress’ (January 2017 to January 2019) began, Cheney was appointed to the committees of ‘Armed Services’ and ‘Natural Resources.’

In the November 2018 general election, Liz Cheney was re-elected to the post without any opposition. The ‘Republicans’ voted her to the chair of the ‘House Republican Conference’ of the 116th ‘Congress’ (January 2019 to January 2021).

Liz Cheney has been married to Philip Perry, a partner at the law firm 'Latham & Watkins,' since 1993. They have five children.