Lynne Ann Cheney (née Vincent) is an American author, scholar, and public servant who served as Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1986 to 1993 and as Second Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Born in Casper, Wyoming, she grew up in the American West. Cheney received a B.A. in English from Colorado College in 1966 and an M.A. (1967) and Ph.D. in British literature (1975), both from the University of Wyoming.

Early in her career she worked as a freelance writer and editor, including a stint as a senior editor at The Washingtonian magazine, before entering public service. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan to lead the National Endowment for the Humanities, she promoted Western civilization studies and frequently clashed with academic progressives over multiculturalism. As Second Lady during her husband Dick Cheney’s vice presidency, she focused on education and literacy initiatives.

A prolific writer, Cheney has authored more than a dozen books, including historical novels (notably a James Madison trilogy), non-fiction such as Telling the Truth, and patriotic children’s books; her positions on history education and textbook revision have provoked controversy. She has appeared as a conservative commentator on Fox News and hosted a short-lived talk show on MSNBC in the 1990s. Cheney remains active in cultural and political discourse, advocating for traditional American values.