WASHINGTON (AP) — Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq, has died at age 84.
Cheney died Monday night due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, according to a statement from his family.
“For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming's Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President of the United States,” the statement said. 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. 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.”
The quietly forceful Cheney served father and son presidents, leading the armed forces as defense chief during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush before returning to public life as vice president under Bush’s son, George W. Bush.
Cheney was, in effect, the chief operating officer of the younger Bush’s presidency. He played a crucial role in implementing decisions of significant national interest—often while managing his own serious health issues, including a heart transplant later in life. Despite decades of heart disease, Cheney was known for his unwavering stance on national defense, defending controversial policies enacted after 9/11.
His tenure, however, was not without controversy. He became a prominent target of criticism post-office, particularly with his daughter's rising opposition against President Trump. He condemned Trump’s attempts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election and evolved into an unexpected symbol of resistance against divisive politics in his later years.
A multi-faceted character, Cheney was both revered and reviled, embodying the complexities of American political life in the early 21st century. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Wyoming, he began his career in politics in 1968, eventually becoming an influential figure within the Republican party.
Remembered for his resolute and sometimes controversial political stances, Cheney’s legacy will continue to evoke strong opinions for years to come as America reflects on his contributions and the contentious issues surrounding his career.
