Dick Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States and a key architect of the Bush administration’s post-9/11 foreign policy, has died at the age of 84, his family confirmed.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President George W. Bush (L) and Vice President Dick Cheney celebrate at the conclusion of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York, September 2, 2004. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
U.S. President George Bush (2nd R) is pictured with Vice President Dick Cheney (R) and senior staff in the President’s Emergency Operations Center in Washington in the hours following the September 11, 2001 attacks in this U.S National Archives handout photo obtained by Reuters July 24, 2015. REUTERS/U.S. National Archives/Handout via Reuters (MILITARY POLITICS DISASTER) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
Cheney served two terms as vice president from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush, during which he played a central role in shaping US responses to the September 11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the broader “war on terror.” Known for his hawkish foreign policy and strong executive approach, Cheney was a polarizing figure, admired by conservatives and criticized by Democrats and human rights advocates alike.
Before becoming vice president, Cheney built a formidable career in Washington, serving as Defense Secretary under George H.W. Bush, White House Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford, and a member of the House of Representatives from Wyoming. He also had a stint as CEO of Halliburton Co. during the Clinton years.
Despite his reputation as a hardline conservative, Cheney later broke with the Republican Party over its direction under Donald Trump, publicly criticizing the current president.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney: “In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.”
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) July 7, 2024
Cheney’s personal life was marked by resilience in the face of serious health challenges, including multiple heart attacks and a heart transplant in 2012, which he described as “the gift of life itself.” He is survived by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary Cheney, and seven grandchildren.
As reported in CNN, reflecting on his legacy, Cheney remained unapologetic about his policies, once stating, “I would do it again in a minute,” in reference to his decisions during the Iraq War and the broader war on terror. His influence on modern American politics, particularly the expansion of executive power, is widely recognized and debated.
epa01238464 US President George W. Bush delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. USA on 28 January 2008. Bush called for the Congress to pass a robust economic stimulus package as quickly as possible to help head off a possible recession. Looking on is US Vice President Dick Cheney (L). EPA/TIM SLOAN
