Dick Cheney, who served as the 46th vice president of the United States and emerged as one of the most powerful and controversial figures in American government, died on Monday at the age of 84, his family announced.

 

Cheney died of complications from pneumonia and heart and vascular disease, the family statement said. 

 

A Political Titan

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 30, 1941, Cheney rose from state politics in Wyoming to key roles on the national stage. He served as White House chief of staff, a US Representative for Wyoming, and US Secretary of Defense under President George H. W. Bush before becoming vice president under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. 

 

During his time as vice president, Cheney was a key architect of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, strongly advocated for the expansion of presidential power in the post-9/11 era, and shaped national-security and foreign-policy strategy in ways that remain deeply influential, and deeply contested. 

 

Legacy and Controversy

Although praised by some as a staunch defender of American strength, Cheney’s legacy is marked by controversy: the failure to uncover the weapons of mass destruction that helped justify the Iraq war, the expansion of surveillance and interrogation practices, and a persistently low public approval rating by the end of his tenure. 

 

The invasion of Iraq, launched on the claim that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, became one of the most consequential and controversial military campaigns of the 21st century. No such weapons were ever found, severely damaging US credibility and fueling global criticism of the war’s justification.

 

The war resulted in a range from approximately 150,000 to over a million total Iraqi deaths, destabilized the region, and helped give rise to insurgent groups, including Daesh. The war’s long-term political and humanitarian costs continue to shape Middle Eastern geopolitics and US foreign policy debates today.

 

After leaving office, Cheney remained a significant voice in Republican and conservative circles, although he clashed with newer party directions and publicly broke with President Donald Trump.