Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at the age of 84, his family confirmed on Monday.
“Richard B. Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States, died last night, November 3, 2025. He was 84 years old,” the family said in a statement. “His beloved wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters, Liz and Mary, and other family members were with him as he passed. The former Vice President died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.”
Cheney is survived by his wife, Lynne; daughters, Liz and Mary Cheney; and seven grandchildren.
A Lifetime in Power
For more than four decades, Cheney was at the centre of American power, serving under four presidents and holding some of Washington’s most influential roles. He was White House Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford, Wyoming’s Congressman, Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush—where he oversaw the U.S.-led coalition victory in the 1991 Persian Gulf War—and later, Vice President under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
As vice president, Cheney was widely regarded as the most powerful in U.S. history. His influence over national security, foreign policy, and defense strategy—especially following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks—was profound. He was a key architect of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, arguing that Saddam Hussein’s regime posed a grave threat due to alleged weapons of mass destruction, a claim later discredited but one that reshaped global geopolitics for years.
A Polarising Legacy
To supporters, Cheney was a steadfast patriot who wielded power with precision in a dangerous era. To critics, he was a shadowy figure who expanded executive power and sanctioned controversial policies, including enhanced interrogation techniques and mass surveillance programs.
Despite his decades-long battle with heart disease—culminating in a heart transplant in 2012—Cheney remained an active and combative voice in U.S. politics long after leaving office.
A Fierce Trump Critic
In his later years, Cheney emerged as one of the Republican Party’s most vocal critics of Donald Trump, a stance that further divided his party. His daughter, Liz Cheney, became a central figure in the congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, earning praise from moderates but fury from Trump loyalists.
“In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who was a greater threat to our……….
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