Flags at the White House fluttered at half-staff on Tuesday morning, November 4, 2025, as the nation awoke to the news that Dick Cheney, one of the most influential—and polarizing—vice presidents in American history, had died the night before at age 84. The cause, according to a statement from his family, was complications from pneumonia and ongoing cardiac and vascular disease, ailments that had shadowed him for decades. Cheney, who served as vice president under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, leaves behind a legacy marked by both towering achievement and fierce controversy.
Cheney’s death was announced by his family early Tuesday. Their tribute described him as “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 statement continued, “We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.” Cheney is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters Liz and Mary, and several grandchildren, all of whom were by his side as he passed.
Born Richard Bruce Cheney in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 30, 1941, Cheney’s rise through the ranks of American politics was meteoric. After serving as a congressional fellow in the late 1960s, he quickly became deputy White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford and, at just 34, ascended to chief of staff. He represented Wyoming in Congress, served as Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, and ultimately became George W. Bush’s running mate and vice president. In nearly every role, Cheney’s influence was unmistakable—especially in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks, when he became a driving force behind the U.S. “war on terror” and the invasion of Iraq.
Cheney’s tenure was marked by his aggressive approach to national security. As he put it in a 2006 interview with TIME, “With 9/11, we have been very aggressive in terms of both carrying the fight to the enemy, going after the terrorists, going after the state sponsors of terror, going after those who could conceivably equip the terrorists with deadlier technologies than they’ve used before.” He argued that the ultimate threat was not just another hijacking, but “19 guys in the middle of one of our cities with a nuclear weapon.”
Yet, for all his achievements, Cheney was dogged by controversy. His advocacy for the Iraq War, based in part on faulty intelligence about weapons of mass destruction, drew intense criticism. His support for secret surveillance and torture programs further divided public opinion. As TIME noted, Cheney experienced a very public fall from grace as these programs were uncovered and as he clashed with the Supreme Court over access to documents from a task force he led.
Condolences and tributes poured in from across the political spectrum and around the world. Former President George W. Bush, in a statement released on Tuesday, called Cheney “a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held.” Bush continued, “Dick was a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges. I counted on him for his honest, forthright counsel, and he never failed to give his best. He held to his convictions and prioritized the freedom and security of the American people.”
Other former vice presidents also weighed in. Kamala Harris, who had been endorsed by Cheney in the 2024 presidential election, wrote on X, “Vice President Cheney was a devoted public servant, from the halls of Congress to many positions of leadership in multiple presidential administrations. His passing marks the loss of a figure who, with a strong sense of dedication, gave so much of his life to the country he loved.” Joe Biden, himself a former vice president, echoed the sentiment, noting, “Dick Cheney devoted his life to public service—from representing Wyoming in Congress, to serving as Secretary of Defense, and later as Vice President of the United States. While we didn’t agree on much, he believed, as I do, that family is the beginning, middle, and end. Jill and I send our love to his wife Lynne, their daughters Liz and Mary, and all of their grandchildren.”
Mike Pence, Trump’s first vice president, said he and his wife were “saddened to learn of Vice President Dick Cheney’s passing and express our deepest sympathies and prayers to Lynne and the entire Cheney family.” Dan Quayle, vice president under George H.W. Bush, remembered Cheney as “a true patriot” who “always put his country first.”
International leaders, too, expressed their condolences. Israeli President Isaac Herzog described Cheney as “a great friend and steadfast supporter of the State of Israel.” In Congress, tributes came from both sides of the aisle. Wyoming Senator John Barrasso praised Cheney’s “unflinching leadership” and said, “Dick will be remembered as a towering figure who helped guide the course of history in Wyoming, the United States, and around the world.” Oklahoma Representative Tom Cole called Cheney “a controversial and often divisive political figure, but he was deeply loyal to his family, his country, his political party, and his conservative convictions.”
Yet, in the final years of his life, Cheney’s legacy was shaped as much by his opposition to Donald Trump as by his service in office. After the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, both Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney became outspoken critics of Trump. Liz, once a rising GOP star, lost her reelection bid largely due to her prominent role in investigating Trump’s actions after the 2020 election. In 2024, both Cheneys crossed party lines to endorse Democrat Kamala Harris over Trump, with Dick Cheney stating, “In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump. He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution. That is why I will be casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Trump, for his part, was quick to respond, dismissing Cheney as “an irrelevant RINO, along with his daughter, who lost by the largest margin in the History of Congressional Races!” He continued, “He’s the King of Endless, Nonsensical Wars, wasting Lives and Trillions of Dollars, just like Comrade Kamala Harris.”
Despite the bitter political feuds, Cheney’s impact on American government is undeniable. He was, as Speaker Mike Johnson put it, “a dedicated public servant and committed to the safety and security of his fellow Americans.” Republican Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama highlighted Cheney’s leadership after 9/11, thanking him for helping “our country stand tall during pivotal times.”
As the nation reflects on Cheney’s life, it’s clear that his story is one of both dedication and division. He shaped the country’s foreign policy in the wake of its gravest modern crisis, but also left wounds that continue to shape its politics. Whether revered or reviled, Dick Cheney’s mark on American history is indelible.
