Vice (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Cheney's rise to power began decades before the Bush presidency. After meeting Donald Rumsfeld during a congressional internship, Cheney became his close advisor. He was exposed to the Unitary Executive Theory from Antonin Scalia, which argued that presidential actions are inherently justified by the office. This ideology, combined with his methodical approach to politics, allowed Cheney to accumulate significant influence. By the time he became Vice President, he had already served as Chief of Staff under Ford and CEO of Halliburton, making him one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history.

Foreshadowing: Cheney's early adoption of the Unitary Executive Theory foreshadowed his later unilateral actions as vice president.

• cheney power
• bush administration
• unitary executive theory
• rumsfeld
• dick cheney influence

After the September 11 attacks, Cheney became obsessed with linking Saddam Hussein to the terrorist attacks, despite Colin Powell's objections. In the White House bunker, Cheney focused on Iraq, viewing it as a nation rich in oil and a potential prize. He used dubious intelligence and questionable sources to build a case for invasion, ignoring evidence that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. His motives appeared to combine geopolitical strategic interests with the post-9/11 climate of fear.

Foreshadowing: Cheney's early fixation on Iraq during the 9/11 bunker scene set the stage for his relentless push toward war.

• iraq war
• cheney iraq
• saddam hussein
• 9/11
• weapons of mass destruction
• colin powell

The Unitary Executive Theory was a controversial legal theory introduced to Cheney by young Antonin Scalia. It proposed that any action taken by the president is inherently justifiable given their office, essentially granting the executive branch unlimited authority. Cheney began implementing these ideas during the Ford administration, and they would later justify his expansive vice presidential powers and the administration's controversial policies after 9/11.

Foreshadowing: Cheney's exposure to this theory in his early career directly influenced his later actions as vice president.

• unitary executive theory
• scalia
• executive power
• cheney legal theory
• presidential authority

During Cheney's tenure as vice president, his interests remained intertwined with Halliburton, the company he had led before joining the Bush administration. This connection allowed him to secure lucrative contracts for the company throughout the Iraq War. By the end of his presidency, Halliburton's stock had soared over 500%, representing a significant financial legacy tied to the war effort.

Foreshadowing: Cheney's prior role as Halliburton CEO created the conflict of interest that benefited the company during the Iraq War.

• halliburton
• iraq war contracts
• cheney halliburton
• conflict of interest
• iraq reconstruction

Mary Cheney left school abruptly following an intense episode with her girlfriend, which caused controversy within the family. However, Dick Cheney's response was one of steadfast support and unconditional love, which became a notable aspect of his character portrayal in the film. This family dynamic played out against the backdrop of Cheney's rising political career.

Foreshadowing: Mary's personal struggles foreshadowed the later family conflict over Liz Cheney's position on gay marriage.

• mary cheney
• cheney family
• lynn cheney
• dick cheney daughter
• family support

Valerie Plame's identity was exposed by Cheney's administration, allegedly triggered by her journalist spouse's criticisms of the Iraq War. This scandal represented one of the most significant abuses of power during Cheney's tenure, as exposing an undercover CIA agent's identity was widely viewed as retaliation against her husband's political speech.

Foreshadowing: The Valerie Plame scandal exemplified the administration's willingness to use executive power to silence critics.

• valerie plame
• cia agent
• white house scandal
• joseph wilson
• iraq war criticism

Cheney played a crucial role in repealing the fairness doctrine, which had required broadcasters to present balanced coverage of political issues. This repeal paved the way for the birth of Fox News and fundamentally shifted the American media landscape, enabling more partisan conservative programming and changing political discourse in America.

Foreshadowing: The repeal of the fairness doctrine directly enabled Fox News to become a major political force that benefited conservative politicians like Cheney.

• fairness doctrine
• fox news
• media bias
• cheney repealing
• conservative media

Liz Cheney faced significant challenges in her pursuit of Wyoming's congressional seat, primarily hindered by her indecisive stance on gay marriage. During a televised interview, she shifted her position on the issue after seeking her parents' wisdom, which deeply impacted family dynamics with her sister Mary, who was in a same-sex relationship.

Foreshadowing: Liz's political calculation on gay marriage directly caused the family rift with Mary that had been brewing since Mary's earlier struggles.

• liz cheney
• wyoming congress
• cheney family
• gay marriage
• mary cheney

Dick Cheney accidentally shot a friend during a hunting incident, which became one of the scandals that highlighted the controversial nature of his vice presidency. This event, combined with other controversies, contributed to the perception of Cheney as a figure who operated outside normal political boundaries.

Foreshadowing: The hunting accident was one of several scandals that marked Cheney's controversial tenure.

• cheney hunting accident
• shooting incident
• vice president scandal
• cheney friend shot

The conditions created by the Iraq War, including the power vacuum and sectarian violence that followed the US invasion, led to the emergence of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. His group laid the groundwork for the eventual rise of ISIS. The film's timeline connects Cheney's decisions directly to this terrorist organization's formation, showing the far-reaching consequences of the invasion.

Foreshadowing: The film's timeline explicitly links the Iraq War decisions to the emergence of ISIS, showing how Cheney's policies created long-term instability.

• isis
• iraq war consequences
• al-zarqawi
• terrorist organization
• iraq invasion aftermath

In an honest confrontation depicted in the film, Dick Cheney was pressed regarding his management of sensitive information but remained unrepentant, asserting that his motives were centered on the safety of American lives. Despite the staggering human toll of thousands of soldiers and civilians lost, Cheney maintained that he believed his actions were justified by the threat environment after 9/11.

Foreshadowing: Cheney's unrepentant stance was consistent with his earlier adoption of the Unitary Executive Theory, which justified extreme actions as inherently presidential.

• cheney regrets
• iraq war justification
• american lives
• cheney interview
• unrepentant

On September 11, 2001, within an underground bunker at the White House, a grave choice was made with President Bush's authority: any aircraft identified as a threat was to be shot down. This pivotal moment represented the intense and uncertain atmosphere of the day and set the stage for the expansive executive powers Cheney would subsequently advocate for.

Foreshadowing: This 9/11 decision marked the beginning of Cheney's push toward the Iraq War and the implementation of controversial policies.

• 9/11 decision
• white house bunker
• aircraft shot down
• bush administration
• september 11