Lynne Cheney was born on August 14, 1941 in Casper, Wyoming. She received a B.A. with honors from Colorado College, a M.A. in English from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. in 19th century British literature from the University of Wisconsin. She was the editor of Washingtonian Magazine from 1983 to 1986. As chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1986 to 1993, she wrote and spoke about the importance of knowing American history and she worked to provide opportunities for teachers to gain the knowledge that leads to inspired instruction. She has written several books including We the People: The Story of Our Constitution and James Madison: A Life.