Former US Vice President Dick Cheney Dies at 84

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Richard “Dick” Cheney, who served as the 46th Vice President of the United States under President George W. Bush, has died at the age of 84. According to a statement released by his family, Cheney passed away due to complications of pneumonia and cardiovascular disease.

Cheney was widely regarded as one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics. Serving from 2001 to 2009, he wielded unprecedented power as vice president, shaping U.S. foreign and security policy in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

A chief architect of the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, Cheney was a key proponent of the so-called “war on terror.” His strong advocacy for the Iraq War—based on now-discredited intelligence about weapons of mass destruction—sparked international criticism and long-term consequences for U.S. foreign relations.

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Before his vice presidency, Cheney served as Secretary of Defence under President George H.W. Bush, overseeing the 1991 Gulf War. He also had a successful private-sector career as CEO of Halliburton, an oil services company that later profited from military contracts during the Iraq conflict.

Throughout his career, Cheney was known for his firm belief in expanding executive power, his support for controversial interrogation techniques, and his opposition to climate change regulations. Despite facing criticism over his policies, he defended his record, once stating he had “no regrets” about his decisions.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1941, Cheney earned degrees in political science from the University of Wyoming before beginning a long public service career that spanned more than four decades.

Cheney is survived by his wife, Lynne Cheney, and their two daughters, Liz and Mary. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in due course.