Dick Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States and a central figure in the nation’s post-9/11 foreign policy, has passed away at the age of 84. His family confirmed his death, attributing it to complications from pneumonia, cardiac disease, and vascular conditions. Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, was a towering yet polarizing figure in American politics, known for his role in shaping the “war on terror” and the controversial Iraq War.
Cheney’s career spanned decades, beginning as a White House aide under President Richard Nixon and later serving as Defense Secretary under President George H.W. Bush. He was instrumental in the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. As Vice President, Cheney wielded significant influence, particularly in advocating for the Iraq War based on claims of weapons of mass destruction—later proven false. His aggressive policies, including support for enhanced interrogation techniques and the detention of terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, drew widespread criticism.
Despite his controversial legacy, Cheney remained unapologetic, asserting that his actions were necessary to protect the nation. In his later years, he became a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, whom he labeled a “coward” and a threat to the republic. Cheney’s final years were marked by his endorsement of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, a symbolic gesture reflecting his disillusionment with the modern Republican Party.
Cheney’s life was also marked by significant health challenges, including multiple heart attacks and a heart transplant in 2012. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, their two daughters, Liz and Mary, and seven grandchildren. His death marks the end of an era for a man who shaped American politics in profound and often contentious ways.