❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Vice President Dick Cheney has passed away at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dick Cheney, his family, and political figures such as former President George W. Bush and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
📍WHEN & WHERE: Cheney passed away on Monday evening, as announced by his family on Tuesday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “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.” – Cheney Family Statement
🎯IMPACT: Cheney’s legacy as a powerful political figure and his controversial role in U.S. foreign policy will continue to shape discussions for years to come.
Former Vice President Richard B. “Dick” Cheney passed away at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. Cheney, who served as vice president from 2001 to 2009 under George W. Bush, was a key figure in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the early 21st century, having an especially detrimental impact on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
The Cheney family described him as “a great and good man” who inspired his family to love the country and embrace values such as courage and kindness. “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 in a statement. Cheney held several prominent roles throughout his career, including White House Chief of Staff, Congressman from Wyoming, and Secretary of Defense, before becoming Vice President.
During his tenure, Cheney was a pivotal advocate for the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the use of enhanced interrogation techniques on suspected terrorists, making him a controversial figure in American politics. His influence earned him the reputation of being “the most powerful vice president in history.”
Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) remarked, “My prayers are [with] the Cheney family. Dick served our country [with] distinction in various roles over many decades.” Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) called Cheney “a giant in American politics” whose impact will endure.
Cheney experienced significant health issues throughout his life, including five heart attacks and a heart transplant in 2012. His daughter Liz Cheney, a former congresswoman for Wyoming, is one of the staunchest anti-Trump Republicans. Liz Cheney is credibly accused of tampering with witness testimony on the Democrat January 6 Committee in an effort to prevent President Trump from running for reelection and eventually endorsed—along with her father—Democrat candidate Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential race.
Image by World Economic Forum swiss-image.ch/Remy Steinegger.
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