Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has died at the age of 84, his family confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday.
Cheney, who served under former President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, reportedly died on Monday from complications related to pneumonia and cardiovascular disease.
The family statement described him as “a devoted public servant who dedicated decades of his life to the United States.”
Cheney was one of the most influential and controversial vice presidents in modern American history. Known for his powerful role in shaping U.S. foreign policy after the September 11, 2001, attacks, Cheney helped drive America’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He was widely seen as the chief architect behind the Bush administration’s aggressive “war on terror” strategy, including controversial policies on enhanced interrogations, secret renditions, and the creation of the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
Often viewed as the power behind the presidency, Cheney wielded more influence than many of his predecessors in the vice presidency — a role that had traditionally been ceremonial.
Born on January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney was raised in Wyoming and earned a degree in political science from the University of Wyoming after dropping out of Yale.
Before becoming vice president, Cheney served in several top government roles, including U.S. Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, during which he oversaw the successful 1991 Gulf War. He also served as White House Chief of Staff and represented Wyoming in Congress for a decade.
A staunch conservative, Cheney’s neo-conservative ideology shaped much of America’s foreign and defense policy in the early 2000s. His influence, however, made him a polarizing figure, earning both deep loyalty and sharp criticism.
Despite his long Republican allegiance, Cheney made headlines in later years for opposing Donald Trump. His daughter, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, revealed that her father voted for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Cheney’s later life was marked by multiple health challenges. He survived five heart attacks between 1978 and 2010, underwent quadruple bypass surgery, and had a pacemaker implanted in 2001.
He also became known for several high-profile incidents, including accidentally shooting his friend Harry Whittington during a 2006 hunting trip an event that dominated global headlines at the time.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the United States, with many political figures acknowledging his decades of service and complex legacy.
