* 1941: Born in Lincoln, Neb.

* 1959: Graduates from Natrona County High School in Casper.

* 1960: Drops out of Yale University, returns to Wyoming and takes a job with the local power company.

* 1963: Arrested for drunken driving for the second time in two years; enrolls at the University of Wyoming.

* 1964: Marries high school sweetheart Lynne Ann Vincent of Casper.

* 1965: Graduates from the University of Wyoming with degree in political science.

* 1966: Applies for fifth Selective Services draft exemption.

* 1968: Wins a congressional scholarship with U.S. Rep. William Steiger, R-Wis., and goes to Washington.

* 1969: Joins the Nixon administration, where he serves in a number of positions.

* 1975: Named White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford.

* 1977: Returns to Wyoming.

* 1978: Elected to represent Wyoming in the U.S. House, defeating Democrat Bill Bagley; suffers first of four heart attacks at age 37.

* 1980: Re-elected to House over Democrat Jim Rogers.

* 1982: Re-elected to House over Democrat Ted Hommel.

* 1984: Re-elected to House over Democrat Hugh McFadden and Libertarian Craig McCune.

* 1986: Re-elected to House over Democrat Rick Gilmore.

* 1988: Re-elected to House over Democrat Bryan Sharratt and Libertarian Craig McCune; elected as House minority whip; undergoes quadruple bypass heart surgery.

* 1989: Takes over as secretary of defense, where he directs the U.S. invasions of Panama and Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East.

* 1991: Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H.W. Bush.

* 1993: Steps down as secretary of defense after election of President Bill Clinton.

* 1995: Takes over as chief executive officer of energy company Halliburton.

* 1999: Federal building in Casper is named in his honor.

* 2000: Agrees to lead George W. Bush's vice presidential search team; Bush announces Cheney as VP pick; Bush-Cheney defeat Democrats Al Gore and Joe Lieberman.

* 2001: Undergoes heart surgery; remains in 'undisclosed location' away from Bush after terrorists strike New York City and the Pentagon; approval rating reaches a high of 63 percent.

* 2002: Issues warning about Iraq; Natrona County High School football field is named in his honor.

* 2003: U.S. forces invade Iraq.

* 2004: Tells Iowa voters that a win by presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry would put the U.S. at risk of another terrorist attack; Bush-Cheney elected to a second term.

* 2005: Warns that the terrorists win if America leaves Iraq; vice presidential chief of staff, Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, resigns after being charged with perjury.

* 2006: Approval rating dips to 41 percent; shoots man in hunting accident; sued by former CIA officer Valerie Plame over leaked identity.

* 2007: Warns Iran not to interfere in Iraq; a suicide bomber, apparently trying to kill Cheney, kills 23 and wounds 20 outside an Air Force base in Afghanistan during a Cheney visit; approval rating drops to 30 percent.

* 2008: Harshly criticizes Russia's military incursion into Georgia.