Dick Cheney, Influential and Controversial Ex-VP, Dies at 84

Dick Cheney, the tough and influential vice president who helped shape America’s response to 9/11, died on November 4 at age 84. His family said he passed away from complications of pneumonia and long-term heart and blood vessel disease.

Cheney had battled heart problems since he was 37 and received a heart transplant in 2012. He died surrounded by his wife Lynne, whom he married in 1964, and their daughters, Liz and Mary.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1941, Cheney grew up in a Democratic family but became a Republican—the first in his line since the Civil War. After leaving Yale, he worked construction jobs, then earned degrees in political science from the University of Wyoming. He avoided the Vietnam draft with deferments and quickly climbed the political ladder. He served as White House chief of staff for President Gerald Ford and represented Wyoming in Congress from 1979 to 1989.

• Dick Cheney, powerful and polarizing ex–vice president, dies at 84 from illness
• He led the Gulf War and backed the 2003 Iraq invasion, reshaping U.S. foreign policy
• Feared and admired, Cheney later broke with Republicans to denounce Donald Trump

As defense secretary under George H.W. Bush, Cheney led the 1991 Gulf War, pushing Iraqi troops out of Kuwait in just 100 hours. He warned against marching on Baghdad. Later, as CEO of oil-services giant Halliburton, he earned a $35 million retirement package—money that drew criticism when the company won big contracts in Iraq.

Cheney became vice president in 2001 under George W. Bush. He played a huge role in the decision to invade Iraq in 2003, insisting Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and ties to al-Qaeda—claims later proven false. The war lasted far longer and cost far more than expected. Cheney also defended harsh interrogation methods, including waterboarding, which many called torture.

Known for his no-nonsense style, he clashed with Bush aides and earned the nickname “Darth Vader”—a label he didn’t mind. In 2006, he accidentally shot a friend while hunting quail and later joked about it.

In his later years, Cheney broke with many Republicans to criticize Donald Trump. He endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024, calling Trump a danger to democracy. His daughter Liz lost her House seat after voting to impeach Trump.

Also Read: Fed Official Lisa Cook Stays Put Despite Trump's Push to Fire Her

Cheney’s family called him a devoted husband, father, and patriot. Former President Bush praised his steady counsel. Love him or hate him, few figures cast a longer shadow over modern American power.