Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney (born January 30, 1941) is an American politician and businessman. He was the Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. As a Republican, he ran in the 2000 US Presidential Election with George W. Bush, and successfully won re-election in the 2004 US Presidential Election. Before he became vice president, he was the Secretary of Defense from 1989 to 1993, during George H.W. Bush's presidency. He was also a member of the House of Representatives from 1979 to 1989, and was White House chief of staff from 1975 to 1977. 