Final answer:
D_ck Cheney and Joe Biden are two vice presidents from the past 25 years with distinct roles and expertise. Cheney's background included significant governmental roles and he played a powerful role in domestic policy. Biden was valued for his foreign policy experience and later involved his own vice president, Kamala Harris, in crucial policy discussions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the vice president has evolved significantly over the past few decades, becoming more integral to the administration's policy-making and governance. In the past 25 years, two vice presidents who have served with distinct expertise and initiatives are Di_k Cheney and Joe Biden. Cheney, serving under President George W. Bush, had an extensive background in government with positions including a White House chief of staff, member of Congress, and cabinet secretary. His areas of expertise were security, energy, and the economy, and he was known for his influential role in policy-making and strong involvement in issues like budget review and lobbying Congress.
On the other hand, Joe Biden, who served as vice president under President Barack Obama, was selected for his foreign policy experience. Biden played a key advisory role to President Obama and was involved in important policy discussions. Later, as President himself, Joe Biden appointed Kamala Harris as his vice president, involving her in every important policy discussion and tasking her with leading border control discussions.
The backgrounds and policy interests of Cheney and Biden reveal differences; Cheney had a more domestically focused portfolio with an emphasis on power consolidation within the executive branch, while Biden's vice presidency was characterized by his advisory presence in foreign policy matters. Both, however, showcase the trend of vice presidents being more involved in substantive governance rather than just ceremonial roles or political exile.