Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Nov 4: Former US Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and controversial figures in modern American politics, passed away on Monday at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family announced.

“Richard B. Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States, died last night, November 3, 2025,” read a statement released by the family. “His beloved wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters Liz and Mary, and other family members were with him as he passed.”

Cheney served as Vice President under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, playing a pivotal role in shaping US foreign and defense policy following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He is widely remembered as one of the most influential vice presidents in US history, often described as the driving force behind the administration’s “war on terror.”

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 30, 1941, Cheney was raised in Casper, Wyoming, and began his career in public service in 1969 during the Nixon administration. He held key positions across several administrations, including serving as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford and later as US Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush.

As Defense Secretary from 1989 to 1993, Cheney oversaw major military operations such as Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991 for his leadership.

After his tenure at the Pentagon, Cheney entered the private sector before returning to public life as Bush’s running mate in the 2000 election. His tenure as Vice President was marked by strong advocacy for national security, intelligence expansion, and the controversial Iraq War.

In later years, Cheney remained active in political discourse, often criticizing populism within his own party. Despite his conservative legacy, he broke ranks with many Republicans by opposing former President Donald Trump and publicly endorsing then–Vice President Kamala Harris for president, saying, “As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution.”

Cheney is survived by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz—a former US Congresswoman—and Mary, along with his grandchildren.

His passing marks the end of an era for a man whose influence reshaped US politics, defense, and foreign policy for decades.