Former Powerful Vice President is dead.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that Former United States Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at the age of 84, his family announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Cheney family said he passed away surrounded by loved ones, including his wife of 61 years, Lynne Cheney, and their daughters, Liz and Mary. The family revealed that he died from complications related to 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, who served as Vice President under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, was a dominant force in shaping U.S. national security policy in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
He played a key role in orchestrating the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, solidifying his reputation as a fierce advocate of military strength and aggressive counterterrorism measures. However, his influence also drew widespread criticism for policies such as “enhanced interrogation” techniques and the flawed intelligence that justified the Iraq war.
Before his vice presidency, Cheney’s career spanned five decades at the heart of Washington power — serving as Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush, White House Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford, and a six-term Congressman from Wyoming.
In his later years, Cheney became one of the most outspoken Republican critics of Donald Trump, describing him as “a coward” and “the greatest threat to the republic.” In the 2024 presidential election, he crossed party lines to endorse Democrat Kamala Harris, saying his decision was about “putting country above partisanship.”
Cheney had battled heart disease for decades, undergoing multiple procedures before receiving a heart transplant in 2012.
He is survived by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary, and seven grandchildren.