Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has passed away at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac disease. (Image Credit: X/ @Emilyrem216532)
Dick Cheney, one of the most influential yet contentious political figures ever to have emerged from America, the former US Vice-President, has died at the age of 84. His family confirmed that he died from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease on Monday night. Surrounded by his wife Lynne and daughters Liz and Mary, Cheney's final moments reflected a lifetime spent in service to his nation.
In a family statement they 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, honour, love, kindness, and fly fishing." The family described his decades-long commitment to the United States as "noble and enduring."
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1941, Richard Bruce Cheney grew up in Wyoming — the state that would define his political career. His journey in Washington began under President Gerald Ford in the 1970s, when he became one of the youngest-ever White House Chiefs of Staff.
Later, Cheney represented Wyoming for over a decade in the House of Representatives and then became Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush. He headed the Operation Desert Storm, the U.S.-led military campaign that freed Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991.
The most defining years of Cheney's career came as Vice-President from 2001 to 2009 under George W. Bush. He became a key architect of the 'War on Terror' in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks. A major proponent of the Iraq invasion in 2003, he pressed for aggressive policies on national security and counterterrorism.
While many credited him as a strategist who helped improve America's strong stance around the world, critics accused him of increasing executive power and strong-arming interrogation techniques.
Since his vice presidency, Cheney has continued to be a vocal presence in U.S. politics. He broke ranks with many in his party to criticize former President Donald Trump as a danger to democracy. In a rare move, Cheney recently endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election-a signal of his deep disillusionment with the modern Republican Party.
Beyond politics, Cheney was known for his love of hunting and fly fishing. His 2006 hunting accident - when he accidentally shot a friend - became one of the most memorable moments of his career.
Tributes from across the world hail Cheney as a man of conviction, discipline, and strategic brilliance. His daughter, Liz Cheney, called him “a man of integrity who believed deeply in America’s promise and responsibility.” He is survived by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary, and seven grandchildren — and a complex and powerful legacy that keeps shaping the contours of American politics and foreign policy.
