Dick Cheney Death

October 31, 2024 – Dick Cheney, who served as the 46th Vice President of the United States under President George W. Bush, has passed away at the age of 82. Cheney died late Tuesday evening at his home in Wyoming, according to a family spokesperson. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, but Cheney had a long history of cardiovascular issues and underwent a heart transplant in 2012.

Cheney was one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in modern American politics. As vice president from 2001 to 2009, he played a key role in shaping U.S. national security policy in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, championing the War on Terror and the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Supporters laud Cheney for his unwavering commitment to American safety and conservative principles, while critics accuse him of pushing the country into a costly, unjustified war in Iraq and condoning the use of torture.

Dick Cheney in his official vice presidential portrait in 2004. (Image: White House/Public Domain)

Cheney’s death has prompted an immediate outpouring of reactions across the political spectrum. Former President George W. Bush, in a brief statement, expressed condolences to the Cheney family and praised his former second-in-command as “a steadfast leader and a loyal friend.” Tributes have also come in from Republican colleagues and foreign leaders who worked with Cheney. At the same time, many critics and activists have responded to the news by remembering the controversies that defined Cheney’s legacy. On social media, responses have been sharply divided – ranging from condolences and praise to scathing critiques and dark humor reflecting the enduring resentment held by Cheney’s detractors.

A Long Career from Wyoming to Washington

Born Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney on January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney grew up in Casper, Wyoming. He would remain deeply connected to Wyoming throughout his life, eventually representing the state in Congress. Cheney attended the University of Wyoming, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science. After a brief period pursuing doctoral studies, he turned to politics and government service.

Cheney’s Washington career began in the late 1960s. He earned a spot in a Congressional fellowship program and later served in the Nixon administration. Under President Gerald Ford, Cheney was appointed Deputy White House Chief of Staff in 1974, and within a year – at just 34 – he became White House Chief of Staff, one of the youngest ever to hold the position.

In 1978, Cheney was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Wyoming’s at-large district. He went on to serve five terms in Congress (1979–1989) and rose to House Republican leadership, becoming House Minority Whip in 1988.

Cheney’s first stint in the executive branch came in 1989 when President George H. W. Bush nominated him to be U.S. Secretary of Defense. As Defense Secretary (1989–1993), Cheney oversaw pivotal moments at the end of the Cold War and led the Pentagon during Operation Desert Storm, the U.S.-led coalition victory in the 1991 Gulf War. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991 by President Bush.

After leaving office in 1993, Cheney became CEO of Halliburton Company, a Texas-based oilfield services corporation, in 1995. This corporate experience bolstered Cheney’s reputation but also planted the seeds for future conflict-of-interest accusations.

Rise to Vice Presidency and Post-9/11 Power

In the 2000 presidential election, Republican nominee George W. Bush chose Dick Cheney as his running mate. The Bush-Cheney ticket won the contentious 2000 election, and Cheney took office on January 20, 2001.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 dramatically elevated Cheney’s role. After 9/11, Cheney became a chief architect of the U.S. response. He was a driving force behind the War on Terror and the 2003 Iraq War, fiercely advocating the claim that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. No stockpiles of such weapons were ever found in Iraq, leading to intense criticism.

Within the Bush administration, Cheney’s influence was unparalleled. He was widely seen as the most powerful vice president in American history, building what some called an “imperial vice presidency.” He championed an expansive view of executive power, believing the presidency should reclaim powers eroded after the Watergate era.

“We have to work the dark side, if you will. We’ve got to spend time in the shadows... It’s going to be vital for us to use any means at our disposal to achieve our objective.” – Dick Cheney, September 16, 2001, in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press. Watch the interview on NBC's Meet the Press

Cheney’s hardline approach included championing “enhanced interrogation techniques” that many consider to be torture. In a 2014 interview, after the Senate Intelligence Committee released a damning report on CIA torture, Cheney famously said: “If I had to do it over again, I would do it in a minute.” A U.S. Senate report on CIA interrogations concluded that the program was brutal and ineffective, a characterization Cheney vehemently rejected.

In Bush’s second term (2005–2009), Cheney successfully argued for a surge of troops in Iraq in 2007. By the end of his vice presidency, his approval ratings were historically low, reflecting public fatigue with the Iraq War.

Controversies and Criticisms

Dick Cheney’s career was marked by numerous controversies. Central among them was the Iraq War. The failure to find weapons of mass destruction severely damaged his credibility, and he was accused of manipulating intelligence.

Another major controversy was Cheney’s role in sanctioning harsh interrogation techniques widely denounced as torture. His steadfast defense of these methods is a key reason his name is associated with a dark chapter of American human rights violations.

Cheney was also embroiled in the CIA leak scandal involving Valerie Plame, which led to the conviction of his chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, for perjury and obstruction of justice. The affair painted a picture of Cheney’s office as willing to retaliate against critics.

He was a central figure in the warrantless surveillance program implemented after 9/11, which ignited a debate over privacy and executive overreach. His ties to Halliburton also attracted scrutiny, leading to accusations of cronyism and profiteering.

A bizarre footnote in his legacy was the 2006 hunting accident, where he accidentally shot his friend, Harry Whittington, in the face. The incident became fodder for late-night comedians and reinforced his public image as trigger-happy.

Later Years and Influence

After leaving office, Cheney faced serious health challenges, receiving a heart transplant in 2012. Once recovered, he re-emerged as an elder statesman of the Republican Party. In 2011, he published his memoir In My Time, offering a robust defense of his years in power.

Cheney was an early Republican supporter of same-sex marriage, a stance rooted in the fact that his younger daughter, Mary Cheney, is a lesbian.

His elder daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Cheney, was elected to Congress from Wyoming in 2016. After the 2020 election, Liz became a leading Republican critic of Donald Trump, and Dick Cheney stood by his daughter. In a viral 2022 campaign ad for her, Cheney delivered a blunt condemnation of Trump, saying, “In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.”

Death and Public Reaction

Dick Cheney died on October 30, 2024, at his residence outside Jackson, Wyoming. Plans for his funeral have not yet been announced, but as a former Vice President, he is eligible for honors such as lying in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Reaction to Cheney’s death has underscored the starkly mixed views Americans have of him. Former President Bush lauded him as “a great American patriot.” However, many on the left and from human rights groups have condemned him. On X (formerly Twitter), phrases like “war criminal” and “architect of torture” trended alongside his name. Amnesty International released a statement noting, “Dick Cheney’s legacy includes some of the darkest practices in recent U.S. history.”

The online reaction has been particularly stark, with discussions ranging from solemn tributes to dark humor and memes, demonstrating how divided public opinion remains.

Legacy and Assessment

Dick Cheney’s legacy is destined to be complex and fiercely debated. Admirers say his unyielding leadership kept America safe after 9/11. Critics argue that his actions, particularly the Iraq War and his advocacy for torture, undermined American values and standing in the world.

Historians note that Cheney redefined the role of the Vice President, proving it could be a center of immense power. The term “Cheney-esque” has entered political science lexicon to describe a VP who acts as a partner in governing.

In popular memory, Cheney will likely forever be associated with the nefarious image his detractors painted. Actor Christian Bale portrayed him in the satirical film “Vice” (2018), and he was often impersonated on Saturday Night Live as a Darth Vader-like figure.

Ultimately, Dick Cheney’s life story is one of power and controversy. Debate will continue over whether he was a necessary guardian of the republic in a time of crisis, or a chief culprit in some of America’s gravest strategic mistakes.