Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, has died at the age of 84, his family announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Cheney family said the former vice president passed away surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife of 61 years, Lynne Cheney, and daughters Liz and Mary. The cause of death was cited as complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
“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,” the family said.
Cheney’s political career spanned decades, including key roles as White House Chief of Staff, U.S. Representative from Wyoming, and Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush. However, he remains one of the most polarizing figures in modern American politics, largely due to his influential role in shaping the U.S. “war on terror” following the September 11 attacks and his advocacy for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Admired by conservatives as a steadfast defender of American power and criticized by opponents for expanding executive authority and endorsing harsh interrogation tactics, Cheney’s legacy continues to spark debate both at home and abroad.
