Mary Cheney gives birth to a son

Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter Mary delivered an 8-pound, 6-ounce baby boy, the first child for her and her female partner of 15 years, Heather Poe.

Samuel David Cheney was born at Sibley Hospital in Washington, the vice president's office announced. The vice president and his wife, Lynne, paid a visit to their new -- and sixth -- grandchild a few hours later and posed for a photo.

Mary Cheney announced in December that she and Poe had decided to start a family. Some gay activists have chastised her for not being a stronger advocate for same-sex marriage, while some social conservatives have decried the trend of gay couples raising children. The family had no public comment on the issue.