WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.

 “I had the privilege and pleasure of knowing Vice President Cheney personally and professionally for many years. We spent a lot of time hunting together, and during the course of our political lives, we interacted often. I enjoyed his company tremendously and always believed he was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known.

 “On foreign policy, he was unashamedly aggressive against the forces who meant harm to the United States. He had a unique ability to handle criticism from all corners of the political spectrum. This is best explained by his tremendous sense of confidence in who he was and what he believed. When that self-confidence clashed with members of both parties, he was unshaken.

“Vice President Cheney lived a life of few regrets. I appreciate his decades of service to our country. My prayers are with Lynne and his entire family whom he loved dearly.”

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