I was sad to learn today of the passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Many people don’t know that he was a Chief of Staff to the President at age 34, making him the youngest person ever to hold that position. After that, he was a Congressman from Wyoming, Secretary of Defense and Vice President.
Dick Cheney was one of the good ones – confident, decent, honest and humble, prioritizing freedom and national security. My former housemate in Washington, D.C. worked on his congressional staff, and gave me a keychain that I still use to this day.
Here’s a snapshot in time and how Dick Cheney changed my life.
I served as the volunteer chair for the Bush-Cheney campaign in the heart of the California Bay Area. You might wonder why I took on such a role—especially in a region like the Bay Area—home to Berkeley and San Francisco, places often considered the birthplace of modern liberalism in the USA. My answer is always the same – good government.
It all started at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds in Alameda County—where politics, purpose, and pouring rain would intersect in an unforgettable way that would change my life.
I was tasked with turning out a crowd and working alongside the presidential campaign’s advance team to create a first-class rally. It was exactly at this time 25 years ago that we were on our way to victory. Some pundits thought we could even win in California, so they sent the future Vice President here to campaign in the final 10 days of the campaign.
All was going according to plan—until the rain came. We were all set with congressional hopefuls kicking off the evening’s speeches. We anxiously waited to hear if Lee Greenwood would be able to make it, considering the weather. Unfortunately, we were forced to blast “God Bless the USA” through our speaker system, since Mr. Greenwood was unable to leave Texas due to torrential rain.
I remember greeting Mr. Cheney when he arrived. Former Rep. Liz Cheney’s in-laws from Orinda were also there to say ‘hello’, since our rally site was so close to their home. I greeted him briefly, and as Mr. Cheney took the stage—steady, composed, and stoic—I looked out at a crowd of over 5,000 people.
Even the downpour couldn’t wash away the crowd’s passion—or the quiet dignity of the man at the podium. During those moments, soaked in both water and resolve, something moved me. God placed me exactly where I was meant to be at exactly the right time.
At the rally’s conclusion, Mr. Cheney left alongside a motorcade of Secret Service and campaign leadership. The next day, I would receive a call from the state campaign chair telling me that Mr. Cheney “felt like a rock star” and wanted to make sure that the volunteer organizers knew how much he appreciated our work. He asked if I might consider a job in the new Administration.
Service & Purpose
This was the beginning of a meaningful chapter in my life—and one that still echoes through my legacy. A few months later, I was asked to consider a high-profile position as Western Regional Representative for the U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. I would serve as the face of the Secretary in Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific. I would be the first woman ever to serve in this role.
I took the job, working hard to support women-owned and diverse businesses, particularly in the technology sector. I had the opportunity to learn “Happy Lunar New Year” in four Asian dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Korean). I had great mentors who were the highest ranking in the President’s Administration. They taught me proper intonation before speaking to a crowd of 5,000 at a Lunar New Year event in Fremont, CA.
I earned the Secretary’s Exceptional Achievement Award for helping Asian women reclaim wages they had been denied and the Woman of Distinction in Politics & Government Award from the San Francisco Business Times.
I’ll never forget the time I joined my colleagues to visit with the President at the White House.
As President Bush stood outside with us to take a photo with regional heads from every department in the country, he said — “Now I want you to listen. This is important. Never forget who the boss is.”
As the crowd cheered in unison, the President said – “It’s not me. It’s the American people.”
The key to being an exceptional public servant is the realization that it’s not about you. It’s about the greater good you can do to help others. I consider myself among the most fortunate people in the country to have had this opportunity to serve—all due to Dick Cheney.
📖 This story is one chapter in a book I’m writing—about rising, relaunching, and reclaiming your power through purpose. If you’ve ever stood in the rain wondering why things happen as they do— remember, there’s always a reason. Stay tuned. The next chapter might just be yours.
➡️ If you enjoyed this chapter, make sure you’re subscribed to get the next one. I’ll be sharing more stories from the frontlines of politics, policy, and personal reinvention—including the powerful moments that reshaped my path and might just spark something in yours.
Until next time—stay aligned, stay curious, and never underestimate a storm’s ability to clear your path. 🌧️⚡