Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney Dies at 84 After Battle with Illness

Former United States Vice President Dick Cheney has passed away at the age of 84, according to a statement from his family cited by U.S. media on Tuesday.

Cheney, who served as the 46th Vice President under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, reportedly died from complications related to pneumonia, as well as cardiac and vascular disease.

In their statement, the family paid tribute to his decades of service to the United States, saying, “For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming’s Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President of the United States.”

Widely regarded as one of the most influential vice presidents in American history, Cheney was known for his strong presence behind the scenes and his role in shaping U.S. policy during the Bush administration, particularly following the September 11 attacks. His influence earned him a reputation as a shrewd and strategic political operator — a figure both respected and controversial.

Born on January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney spent much of his childhood in Wyoming, the state he would later represent in Congress. He began his studies at Yale University but eventually completed his political science degree at the University of Wyoming.

Throughout his long and storied career, Cheney held multiple key government positions, including White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford and Secretary of Defense under President George H. W. Bush, where he oversaw the U.S. military during the Gulf War.