The defining moment of Leahy's career came in June 2004 following the U.S. Senate class photo. Leahy, reportedly jealous that Cheney was mingling with a group of Republican lawmakers, approached the vice president and attempted to bully Cheney into acknowledging the Democrats in the room. The confrontation devolved into a shouting match over the Iraq war and other issues until Cheney conclusively ended the exchange. "Go fuck yourself," he told the senator with authority.