Former Vice President Dick Cheney, a towering and often polarizing figure in modern American politics, died on Monday night at the age of 84 due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family confirmed Tuesday.
Cheney, who served as the nation’s 46th Vice President for two terms under President George W. Bush, is being remembered as among the most powerful—and controversial—individuals ever to hold the office.
A Patriot Who Served Five Presidents
In a statement released from Dallas, former President George W. Bush paid tribute to his former running mate, calling his death “a loss to the nation and a sorrow to his friends.”
“Laura and I will remember Dick Cheney for the decent, honorable man that he was,” Bush said. “History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held.”
Bush praised Cheney’s steadfast presence during their time in office, particularly amid the profound challenges following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. “Dick was a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges. I counted on him for his honest, forthright counsel, and he never failed to give his best. He held to his convictions and prioritized the freedom and security of the American people.”
Cheney’s political career spanned nearly five decades and included:
- White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford (1975–1977).
- Wyoming’s Congressman in the House of Representatives (1979–1989).
- Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, where he oversaw Operation Desert Storm (1989–1993).
Bush recalled that when he initially enlisted Cheney to lead the search for a Vice Presidential candidate in 2000, he quickly realized his ideal running mate was the man doing the choosing. “In our long discussions about the qualities a vice president should have – deep experience, mature judgment, character, loyalty – I realized that Dick Cheney was the one I needed,” Bush stated. “I’m still grateful that he was at my side for the eight years that followed.”
The Power Broker
Cheney’s tenure as Vice President was transformative, marked by his immense influence over foreign policy, especially as a chief architect of the Iraq War and the “War on Terror.” He was widely viewed as the chief operating officer of the younger Bush’s presidency, pushing for an expansion of executive power and consistently defending the administration’s use of surveillance and detention tools.
In their own statement, his family honored his character and commitment: “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.” They concluded, “We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”