Dick Cheney, who served as the 46th Vice President of the United States under President George W. Bush and was one of the most influential and controversial political figures of his generation, has died at the age of 84. His family announced that he passed away on Monday night from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular diseaseA dominant force in Republican politics for decades, Cheney's career in Washington spanned from the Nixon administration to the pinnacle of power as vice president. He was widely regarded as the most powerful vice president in American history, playing a pivotal role in the Bush administration's response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and as a chief architect of the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.Before his vice presidency, Cheney's extensive career included serving as White House Chief of Staff for President Gerald Ford, a six-term congressman for Wyoming, and Secretary of Defense for President George H.W. Bush, where he oversaw the 1991 Gulf War.Cheney's tenure as vice president was marked by a vigorous push for the expansion of presidential power. He was a staunch advocate for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, asserting that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, a claim that was later found to be untrue.His unapologetic defense of controversial policies, including "enhanced interrogation techniques," made him a deeply polarizing figure.Throughout his adult life, Cheney battled significant health problems, suffering his first of five heart attacks at the age of 37. He underwent a heart transplant in 2012.In a statement, his family remembered him as a “great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.” Former President George W. Bush called Cheney a "calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges," and said he counted on him for his “honest, forthright counsel.”In his later years, Cheney became a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, calling him the greatest threat to the republic in U.S. history and, in a notable break with his party, endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.He is survived by his wife, Lynne, and their two daughters, Liz and Mary.
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