On a sunny February afternoon in 2006, a routine quail hunt on a sprawling Texas ranch transformed into an international news story that would follow two men for the rest of their lives. Then-Vice President Dick Cheney, an experienced hunter, was swinging on a bird when he fired his 28-gauge Perazzi shotgun. In that split second, his friend, 78-year-old Austin attorney Harry Whittington, stepped into the line of fire. The blast of birdshot struck Whittington in the face, neck, and chest, leaving him bleeding on the ground and sparking a media firestorm that questioned everything from Cheney’s judgment to the White House’s transparency.
The incident, which neither man ever described as anything but a terrible accident, became a cultural moment, spawning endless late-night jokes and political commentary. Yet at its heart, it was a human story of a traumatic event that linked two men—one a powerful world leader, the other a respected Texas political fixture—in a way no one could have predicted. The aftermath involved a delayed public disclosure, a serious health scare for Whittington, and a long journey toward recovery that ultimately ended with forgiveness.
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The Accident and Its Aftermath
The quail hunt on February 11, 2006, at the 50,000-acre Armstrong Ranch in Riviera, Texas, was supposed to be a relaxing outing. The details of the moment are precise. Cheney, Whittington, and another hunter had just shot at a covey of birds. While Whittington went to retrieve a downed bird, Cheney and the third hunter moved about a hundred yards away toward another covey. As Whittington returned, approaching within 30 to 40 yards of the group, a single bird flew up and circled behind Cheney, heading in Whittington’s direction. Cheney swung on the bird and fired.
Dick Cheney would later describe the scene in an interview, calling it “one of the worst days of my life” and saying, “The image of him falling is something I’ll never ever be able to get out of my mind.” He acknowledged that Whittington was in a gully with the sun behind him, potentially affecting visibility, but took full responsibility, stating, “I’m the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend.” Secret Service agents and medical personnel who were traveling with the Vice President immediately rushed to Whittington’s aid. He was first taken by a standby ambulance to a local hospital and then flown by helicopter to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital.
I was looking for a late-in-life picture of Harry Whittington, the man “shot in the face” by Dick Cheney, to argue he wasn’t actually hurt that bad. But it looks like he did actually get some fairly bad scarring from it. pic.twitter.com/iSwAUibySg
— J.J. McCullough (@JJ_McCullough) November 4, 2025
The public didn’t learn about the shooting until the next day, Sunday, February 12, when the ranch owner, Katherine Armstrong, informed the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. The White House then confirmed the story that afternoon. This delay in disclosure became a major point of criticism and controversy, with even White House staff reportedly urging for quicker release of information. Cheney defended the decision, saying he believed Armstrong, as an eyewitness and hunting expert, was the best person to accurately tell the story.
Whittington’s health journey was fraught with complications. Initially, he was in stable condition, but a few days after the shooting, he suffered a minor, non-fatal heart attack and atrial fibrillation because at least one of the tiny lead pellets had traveled to a spot near his heart. He also had a collapsed lung. Doctors decided it was safer to leave many of the birdshot pellets lodged in his body rather than attempt risky removal surgeries; approximately 30 pieces of shot remained inside him for the rest of his life.
The Two Men at the Center of the Story
Harry Whittington was far more than just the victim of a high-profile accident; he was a key figure in the rise of the Republican Party in Texas. A lawyer and real estate investor, he had worked on political campaigns for figures like George H.W. Bush and John Tower and was appointed by governors to help clean up troubled state agencies, including the Texas prison system. Known for his integrity and compassion, he was a respected elder statesman in Texas GOP circles.
When he was released from the hospital, it was Whittington who publicly apologized, telling reporters, “My family and I are deeply sorry for all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this past week.” He later clarified that while the media often called them “good friends,” he and Cheney were actually acquaintances who had met only a handful of times over thirty years.
🚨 Dick Cheney, former Vice President to George W. Bush, architect of the Iraq War, and father of the modern surveillance state, dies at 84. pic.twitter.com/gjixzzMhig
— James Li (@5149jamesli) November 4, 2025
For Dick Cheney, the accident was a profound personal trauma and a massive public relations challenge. He visited Whittington in the hospital and eventually broke his public silence in a Fox News interview, where he accepted full blame. The event, however, forever became a part of his public persona, a moment of dark irony for a famously powerful and controlled Vice President. President George W. Bush publicly stated that he believed Cheney had handled the aftermath “just fine.” The local sheriff’s investigation concluded without any charges being filed.
Harry Whittington lived for another 17 years after the accident, passing away in February 2023 at the age of 95. He largely avoided the spotlight, telling The Washington Post in a rare 2010 interview, “I was lucky. I just feel like every day is a gift.” The story of the hunting accident remains a unique and deeply human chapter in American political history, a reminder that a single, unforeseen moment can forever link two very different lives.
