Dick Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States and a key architect of the Iraq War, died on Monday night at the age of 84 from complications from pneumonia and long-term heart and vascular disease. His family confirmed his death, which will be remembered as one of the most important and powerful vice presidents in modern American history.
Cheney was vice president with George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. Cheney was known for being tough on national security, and after the September 11 attacks, he had a big impact on U.S. foreign policy. He was a major reason why the Bush administration decided to invade Iraq in 2003. They used intelligence about weapons of mass destruction that were never found as a reason.
Before becoming vice president, Cheney had a long and successful career in government. He was a congressman from Wyoming, White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford, and Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, where he was in charge of Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War.
Cheney was a conservative at heart, but he became a strong opponent of the Republican Party’s later shift. For example, he backed Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and opposed former President Donald Trump.
Cheney had a lot of health problems during his life, including several heart attacks and a heart transplant in 2012, which he called “the gift of life itself.” He died peacefully with his wife Lynne, who had been married to him for 61 years, and their daughters by his side.
His family remembered him as a man who taught honor, courage, and love of country. He left behind a complicated but lasting mark on American politics and national security.
