Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has died at the age of 84, ending one of the most controversial and consequential political careers in modern American history. His family confirmed he passed away on Monday, November 3, 2025, from complications related to heart disease and pneumonia.
Cheney was surrounded by his wife Lynne Cheney and daughters Liz and Mary when he died, according to family representatives. His death marks the end of a political life that stretched across more than five decades, defined by power, precision, and polarizing decisions that reshaped the role of the vice presidency forever.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1941, Cheney grew up in Wyoming and studied political science at the University of Wyoming, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After early stints working under the Nixon and Ford administrations, he rose through Washington’s ranks and became one of the most influential Republican figures of his generation.
Cheney served as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford, later as a Congressman from Wyoming, and then as Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, where he oversaw Operation Desert Stormduring the first Gulf War.
But his most defining role came decades later, as Vice President under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. Cheney was known as the most powerful vice president in American history. His influence grew after the September 11 attacks, when he became a key architect of the War on Terror, the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the creation of aggressive national security policies that included enhanced interrogation techniques and expanded government surveillance.
Supporters viewed Cheney as a patriot who acted decisively to protect America. Critics accused him of pushing the country into unnecessary wars and expanding presidential powers beyond their limits. Either way, his handprint was on nearly every major foreign policy decision of the early 2000s.
Health problems followed him throughout his life. Cheney suffered multiple heart attacks, the first at age 37, and underwent a heart transplant in 2012. Despite his ongoing medical issues, he remained active in politics long after leaving office, mentoring younger conservatives and making occasional public appearances.
In recent years, Cheney broke from many in his own party, publicly condemning Donald Trump and supporting his daughter Liz Cheney’s opposition to Trump’s actions after the 2020 election. It was a dramatic shift for a man who once defined Republican establishment power.
Cheney’s passing leaves behind a legacy of fierce conviction and deep controversy. For some, he was a steady hand during crisis. For others, a symbol of unchecked authority.
