Harry Whittington was a lawyer who made headlines in 2006 when he was accidentally shot by Vice President Dick Cheney while on a hunting trip.
- Died: February 4, 2023 (Who else died on February 4?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Austin, Texas of complications from a fall at the age of 95.
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Prominent Texas Republican
A longtime Austin lawyer, Whittington represented clients including “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000). He rose to prominence in the Texas Republican Party over the years, working on campaigns for presidents George H.W. Bush (1924–2018) and George W. Bush, as well as working with and becoming a friend to Karl Rove, senior advisor to George W. Bush. Whittington served on the Texas Correction Board, where he successfully lobbied for reforms to Texas’ prison system. The father of a developmentally disabled daughter, he also fought for a law that would prevent executions of developmentally disabled prisoners in Texas. Though his efforts in the state failed, a federal law later outlawed such executions.
Fateful hunting trip
Whittington and Cheney were among the participants on a quail hunting trip at a ranch in southern Texas in 2006 – though news reports at the time characterized the two as good friends, Whittington later clarified that they didn’t know each other well and simply happened to be on the same hunting trip. As dusk began to fall, Cheney swung around and took a shot, hitting Whittington in the face, neck, and body with birdshot. He was rushed to the hospital, where he had complications including a minor heart attack. Much was made of the fact that while Cheney did not publicly apologize in the days following the incident, Whittington did apologize for “all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this week.” Whittington was left with a few dozen pieces of birdshot in his body for the rest of his life. In the 2018 movie “Vice” about Cheney’s life, Whittington was portrayed by actor Mark Bramhall.
Whittington on his famous apology
“It really wasn’t that. I didn’t intend it that way. It was more of a sense of disappointment that it happened at all. I’m sure it must have been difficult for Mr. Cheney and his family. I still feel the same way.” —from a 2010 interview for the Washington Post
Tributes to Harry Whittington
Full obituary: The Texas Tribune
