There's a new addition to the statue-lined hallways of the U.S. Capitol — a marble bust in the likeness of Dick Cheney.
It's a tradition — and a perk — afforded vice presidents since the late 1800s.
On Thursday morning, former President George W. Bush, Vice President Biden and other dignitaries offered effusive praise — and polite jokes as the sculpture was unveiled.
"Nobody could accuse Dick Cheney of living an inconsequential life," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said of the nation's 45th vice president, who played a strong role in the lead up to the Iraq war.
He noted Cheney was in the White House on 9/11, that he'd been Secretary of Defense during the first Gulf War and that he was Gerald Ford's chief of staff after Watergate.
Bush made a rare Washington appearance to attend — and cracked, "He assured me that Dick's bust would be prominently displayed in an undisclosed location."
The "he" was Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell.
There were jokes about Cheney as Darth Vader and about him once cursing at a Democratic U.S. Senator on the Senate floor.
In a recent biography of George H.W. Bush, Bush criticizes Cheney — and his role in his son's White House. That was fodder for the younger Bush.
"I told mother and dad I was coming here for the bust unveiling," Bush began before delivering the punchline. "Dad perked up, and he said, 'Send my best regards to old iron ass.'"
"Iron ass" was the name H.W. Bush used to describe Cheney in that biography.
The only Democrat on stage was Biden. He and Cheney have been political combatants for decades, but not on Thursday.
"I actually like Dick Cheney," he said to chuckles from the crowd.
This was not an event for Cheney critics — on the war or torture or related topics.
Biden instead pointed to the kindness Cheney and his family showed him after the death of Biden's son Beau earlier this year.
"I can say without fear of contradiction, there's never one single time been a harsh word," Biden said, "not one single time in our entire relationship."
Finally, came time for the unveiling. The likeness, if not uncanny, is very good. The marble Cheney delivers a cold stare — as the real Cheney looked on. And the sculpture also reveals just a hint of that thin, dry smile Cheney became so well known for.
Cheney has never been the sentimental type, nor was he Thursday.
"I reminded Lynn this morning that if the Cheney family had not moved to Casper, Wyoming, in the early 50s, we never never would have met," he said as his family and wife Lynn looked on from the front row. "And she said, 'Right, and today, we'd be dedicating his marble bust."
Then, Cheney did some reflection, imagining what he'd want a future visitor to the Capitol looking at his likeness to think.
"I would want them to know this much at least — here, was a believer in America," he said, "so fortunate in his life experiences, so blessed in his friends, so grateful in all his days to have served as vice president of the United States of America."
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
