Mr Richard Bruce Cheney ('Dick Cheney')

Former Vice President (2001-2009); former Chief Executive of Halliburton

Date of Birth: 30/01/1941
Place of Birth: Lincoln, Nebraska

Married to Lynne Cheney with 2 children

Career: Special assistant to the Director of Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) 1969-70; White House staff assistant 1971; Assistant director, Cost of Living Council 1971-73; Vice-President, Bradley, Woods & Co. 1973-74; Deputy Assistant to President Gerald Ford 1974-75; White House Chief of Staff 1975-77; Elected as a Republican to the Ninety-sixth and to the five succeeding Congresses,1979-89; Minority whip (One Hundred First Congress); Secretary of Defense 1989-93; Senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute 1993-95; chairman and chief executive office of the Halliburton Company 1995-2000; 46th Vice-President of the United States, 2001-09.

Commentary: Dick Cheney, a lifelong conservative, was a staunch supporter of the Vietnam War, but received deferments and never served in the military. He has become known as a very public and controversial figure.