Dick Cheney, the divisive and influential former US vice-president under George W. Bush, died at age 84. His family announced his passing due to complications of pneumonia, cardiac, and vascular disease. Cheney's extensive career included roles as a member of Congress, White House chief of staff, secretary of defense, and notably, one of the most powerful vice presidents in US history.

His tenure as vice president from 2001 to 2009 was marked by significant impact, particularly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Cheney played a crucial role in the Bush administration's response, including the subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. He became a leading advocate for the Iraq War, publicly asserting links between Saddam Hussein, al-Qaida, and 9/11, and claiming Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. These claims were later disproved, and both Bush and Cheney's public rationale for war was soon proved false. The war resulted in a high death toll, with at least 800,000 people killed by direct war violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan since 2001 according to the Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University. Cheney also continued to defend the controversial treatment of prisoners and the use of torture against detainees after 9/11.

Prior to his vice presidency, Cheney served as Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1993. During this time, he led the Pentagon during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War. He also became a controversial figure for aggressively cutting military budgets and defense spending, notably cancelling two high-profile Grumman Corp. military aircraft programs: the A-6 Intruder and the F-14 Tomcat. This decision, despite significant lobbying efforts from bipartisan congressional delegations and Grumman, led to approximately 25,000 job losses on Long Island and ultimately forced Grumman's merger with Northrop Corp., ending what was considered a "golden era" for military airplane manufacturing in the region. Cheney defended his decision by arguing for the funding of new, more advanced weapons systems and by deeming the F-14 Tomcat as approaching obsolescence, a view questioned given the continued service of older aircraft like the B-52 bomber. This move triggered a test of political wills between Cheney, the Senate Armed Services Committee, Grumman, and the House Armed Services Committee.

A Yale dropout who avoided Vietnam service, Cheney's political ascent was remarkable. He served as a White House aide under Richard Nixon, became the youngest White House chief of staff to Gerald Ford at age 34, and a member of Congress under Ronald Reagan, representing Wyoming for six terms. Before becoming George W. Bush's running mate in 2000, he was CEO of Dallas-based Halliburton Corp. Cheney's life was also marked by persistent health challenges, including five heart attacks and a heart transplant, and a notable hunting accident in 2006 where he accidentally shot a companion in the torso, neck, and face. He often joked about his outsize reputation as a stealthy manipulator, embracing the "Darth Vader" moniker.

After leaving office, Cheney maintained a strong conservative stance, consistently defending the extraordinary tools of surveillance, detention, and inquisition employed in response to 9/11. In a notable turn, he became a vocal critic of Donald Trump, calling him "a greater threat to our republic." He supported his daughter, Liz Cheney, in her opposition to Trump and even announced his intention to vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, citing a duty to "put country above partisanship to defend our constitution." Despite a public image often associated with a "Darth Vader" persona, Cheney famously stated in 2013 he awoke each day "with a smile on my face, thankful for the gift of another day" after surviving numerous heart ailments.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney grew up in Casper, Wyoming, where he was senior class president and football co-captain. He married his high school sweetheart, Lynne Anne Vincent, in 1964. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Liz and Mary. Liz Cheney followed in her father's footsteps, serving as a US House representative for Wyoming in the same seat her father once held, though she was later censured by the Republican party for her criticism of Donald Trump.