Richard B. Cheney Dies at 84: A Legacy of Power, Controversy, and Polarization
- Andy McGurran
- Nov 4, 2025
- 5 min read
By Andrea McGurran
Published: November 4, 2025
Washington, D.C. — Richard Bruce Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States and one of the most influential and polarizing figures in modern American politics, died Tuesday at the age of 84. Cheney's family confirmed his passing in a statement, citing complications from pneumonia and ongoing vascular and cardiac issues.
“Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing,” the family said.
Cheney’s legacy is defined by his central role in shaping U.S. foreign and domestic policy during a transformative era in American politics. From his leadership during the September 11 attacks and the subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to his controversial advocacy of expanded executive powers and “enhanced interrogation” tactics, Cheney remains one of the most consequential—and contested—figures in U.S. history.
A Political Career Spanning Decades
Born January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney spent his early years in Casper, Wyoming. His journey from a struggling Yale dropout to a towering figure of Washington power began modestly, working as a political aide during the Nixon and Ford administrations. A protégé of Donald Rumsfeld, Cheney swiftly rose through the ranks, becoming White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford in 1975.
In 1978, Cheney won Wyoming’s at-large congressional seat, launching a decade-long tenure in the House of Representatives. Known for his staunch conservatism, Cheney developed a reputation as a meticulous and calculating legislator, eventually serving as House minority whip in 1989. That same year, President George H.W. Bush tapped Cheney to serve as Secretary of Defense, ushering in one of the most formative chapters of his career.
As Pentagon chief, Cheney oversaw Operation Desert Storm, the 1991 U.S.-led military campaign that expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait. His leadership during the Gulf War earned him widespread acclaim, and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991.
After leaving government, Cheney transitioned into the private sector, serving as chairman and CEO of Halliburton, a major oilfield services company, from 1995 to 2000. His tenure at Halliburton drew scrutiny for its ties to U.S. military contracts, controversies that would follow him into his vice presidency.
The Bush-Cheney Era: Power and Controversy
In 2000, George W. Bush selected Cheney to vet potential vice-presidential candidates. In a twist of fate, Cheney himself became Bush’s running mate, bringing decades of Washington experience to a ticket led by a relatively untested Texas governor.
Cheney’s eight years as vice president were marked by unparalleled influence. Often described as the most powerful vice president in U.S. history, Cheney played a central role in shaping the Bush administration’s response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. From a secure bunker beneath the White House, Cheney directed the nation’s initial response, including authorizing the military to shoot down hijacked planes—one of the most extraordinary decisions ever made by a vice president.
Cheney was instrumental in promoting the administration’s “war on terror,” which encompassed the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. He was a leading advocate of the Iraq War, arguing that Saddam Hussein’s regime possessed weapons of mass destruction and had ties to al-Qaeda. Both claims were later debunked, but Cheney remained steadfast, insisting that the invasion was justified.
The vice president also championed controversial policies that expanded executive power, including warrantless surveillance programs and the use of "enhanced interrogation" techniques, such as waterboarding, which critics labeled as torture. Cheney’s unapologetic defense of these measures made him a hero to some and a villain to others.
By the end of his tenure, Cheney’s approval ratings had plummeted, reflecting widespread public disillusionment with the Iraq War and the Bush administration’s handling of Hurricane Katrina and the 2008 financial crisis.
Life After the White House
Cheney left office in 2009 as a deeply divisive figure but remained active in public life, penning memoirs and frequently criticizing the Obama administration’s national security policies. In 2012, Cheney underwent a heart transplant, which he described as “the gift of life itself.”
In his later years, Cheney became estranged from the modern Republican Party. Though he initially supported Donald Trump in 2016. In a remarkable coda to his career, Cheney endorsed Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, citing a “duty to defend the Constitution.”
Legacy: A Giant of Washington
Cheney’s legacy is both monumental and polarizing. Supporters hail him as a principled statesman who made tough decisions in the nation’s darkest hours. Critics argue he aggressively pursued policies that undermined civil liberties and destabilized the Middle East.
“History will remember Dick Cheney as one of the most consequential public servants of his time,” former President George W. Bush said in a statement. “He was a patriot, a fierce defender of American ideals, and a man of deep conviction.”
Cheney is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters Liz and Mary, and seven grandchildren.
As the nation reflects on Cheney’s life and career, his legacy—as a symbol of power, resilience, and controversy—remains as complex and indelible as the man himself.
Andrea McGurran is an old-school, professionally trained investigative journalist, editor-in-chief, publisher, documentarian, photographer, designer, and digital radio, podcast, TV, and producer and host. She pioneered the first digital magazines and recently founded 3 more magazines, including the Ark Magazine, Biblical History Ark, and a soon to be released cooking magazine.
Sources:
Primary Sources
Cheney’s Memoirs
Cheney, Richard B., and Liz Cheney. In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir. New York: Threshold Editions, 2011.
Cheney’s in-depth autobiography covering his political career and time as vice president.
Cheney’s Foreign Policy Book
Cheney, Richard B., and Liz Cheney. Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
This book outlines Cheney’s views on American foreign policy and global leadership.
Presidential Library and Archives
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. "Dick Cheney Biography."
News Outlets and Obituaries
The New York Times
"Dick Cheney, Influential Vice President Under George W. Bush, Dies at 84." The New York Times. November 4, 2025.
CNN
Collinson, Stephen, and Veronica Stracqualursi. "Dick Cheney, Influential Republican Vice President, Dies." CNN Politics. November 4, 2025.
The Washington Post
Gellman, Barton. Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency. New York: Penguin Press, 2008.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative book offers a detailed look into Cheney’s influence during the Bush administration.
Historical Context and Analysis
Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations. "Dick Cheney Biography and Contributions."
PBS Frontline
"The Dark Side: Dick Cheney and the War on Terror." Frontline, Public Broadcasting Service, 2006.
The Atlantic
Friedersdorf, Conor. "Remembering Why Americans Loathe Dick Cheney." The Atlantic. August 30, 2011.
Books:
Cheney, Richard B., and Liz Cheney. In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir. New York: Threshold Editions, 2011.
Cheney, Richard B., and Liz Cheney. Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.
Articles:
Collinson, Stephen, and Veronica Stracqualursi. "Dick Cheney, Influential Republican Vice President, Dies." CNN Politics. November 4, 2025. https://www.cnn.com.
"Dick Cheney, Influential Vice President Under George W. Bush, Dies at 84." The New York Times. November 4, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com.
Reports and Investigations:
Gellman, Barton. Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency. New York: Penguin Press, 2008.
Public Broadcasting Service. The Dark Side: Dick Cheney and the War on Terror. Frontline, 2006. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline.
Government Archives:
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. "Dick Cheney Biography." https://www.georgewbushlibrary.gov.
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