Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who redefined the power of the Vice Presidency and became a central, polarizing figure in Americ...
Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who redefined the power of the Vice Presidency and became a central, polarizing figure in American politics for half a century, died on Monday night at the age of 84, his family announced on Tuesday. He died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
Cheney’s career spanned the highest levels of Washington, including roles as White House Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford, a congressman for Wyoming, and Secretary of Defense during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush. However, his legacy is fundamentally defined by his two terms as Vice President under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
During this period, Cheney was widely regarded as the most powerful Vice President in US history, wielding unparalleled influence over foreign policy, national security, and energy policy. He was the driving force behind the global "war on terror" following the September 11, 2001, attacks, and served as the primary advocate for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a decision that would dominate his historical narrative.
A Life of Influence and Latter-Day Defiance
Cheney was a survivor of five heart attacks and had long battled heart trouble, though he famously managed to stay on the job even after the September 11 attacks, operating for months from undisclosed locations to ensure the continuity of government.
In later years, Cheney became an increasingly isolated figure within the Republican Party he once defined, due to his vocal and often scathing opposition to Donald Trump. He publicly denounced Trump as the greatest threat to the republic in the nation's history, a stance that led to him being ostracized by the MAGA movement and many former allies.
In their statement, Cheney’s family noted, "Dick Cheney was 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." He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, and his daughters, Liz and Mary.
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