The talk was small for dick Cheney: the virtues of duck-hunting, the recent renovation of his mansion and the histoiy of conservatism in Congress. Yet the reception for 40 members of the conservative Republican Study Committee was also unusually personal for the veep. Munching on mini-cheeseburgers in his official residence, Cheney chatted with small groups of lawmakers, saying he understood dieir position—after all, he was once a member of the RSC when he served in the House. "It was very casual," says Kevin Brady, a five-term Texas Republican, "or as casual as you can be at the vice president's house." Casual enough for some frank talk about Social Security—what one guest called the elephant in the room. One lawmaker bluntly told the veep the party wouldn't support lifting the cap on payroll taxes. Others warned of the budget-busting cost of the transition to private accounts. Cheney, on the verge of his own town-hall-style sessions, listened carefully. "We still have a long way to go," he reassured his nervous guests.
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