WASHINGTON, D.C. (LOOTPRESS) — Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at the age of 84, according to a statement released by his family.
Cheney, who served as vice president under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, was a central architect of the United States’ response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and a driving force behind the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. His tenure helped reshape America’s foreign and national security policy for decades to come.
Before becoming vice president, Cheney held a long and distinguished career in government, serving as White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford, a Wyoming congressman, and later as secretary of defense under President George H.W. Bush, where he oversaw Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War.
As vice president, Cheney wielded unprecedented influence within the Bush administration. He was known for his assertive advocacy of military action, expanded executive power, and enhanced interrogation techniques — policies that drew both praise for protecting national security and criticism for overreach and human rights concerns.
The decision to invade Iraq in 2003, based on the belief that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, became one of the most defining and divisive moments of Cheney’s political legacy. The weapons were never found, leading to years of controversy and debate over the war’s justification and cost.
Following his time in office, Cheney remained a prominent voice in Republican politics and national security debates, often defending the Bush administration’s record. In later years, he publicly supported his daughter, Liz Cheney, a former Wyoming congresswoman who broke with much of her party over her opposition to former President Donald Trump.
Cheney’s health had long been a concern; he underwent multiple heart procedures and received a heart transplant in 2012.
He is survived by his wife, Lynne Cheney, and their two daughters, Liz and Mary.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
