Former Vice President Dick Cheney Dies at 84 from Complications of Pneumonia and Cardiac Disease

04 November 2025

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Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has passed away at the age of 84, his family announced. The statement confirmed that Cheney died on Monday, November 3, surrounded by loved ones, including his wife of 61 years, Lynne, and his two daughters, Liz and Mary. His cause of death was listed as complications from pneumonia alongside cardiovascular and vascular disease.

Cheney’s health had long been a matter of public record. His first heart attack occurred in 1978, when he was just 37 years old, and over the decades he endured multiple heart episodes ultimately undergoing a heart transplant in 2012. His family noted that while they did not know the identity of his donor, they were “forever grateful” for the lifesaving gift.

Born January 30, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney moved with his family to Wyoming where he grew up and later attended the University of Wyoming, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. His political career began in the Nixon administration and included roles such as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford, U.S. Representative for Wyoming, Secretary of Defense under President George H. W. Bush, and ultimately the 46th Vice President of the United States under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.

Widely regarded as one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history, Cheney exercised deep influence over national security policy, especially in the aftermath of the September 11 th attacks. He championed the “war on terror,” advocated for the invasion of Iraq, and supported expanded executive and surveillance powers decisions that fuelled both admiration and controversy.

The statement released by the Cheney family 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.” They added that they were “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.”

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Former President George W. Bush Cheney’s partner in the presidency called him “a decent, honorable man” and among the finest public servants of his generation. Bush credited Cheney with bringing “integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose” to every position he held.

Cheney’s passing comes at a turbulent time in U.S. politics but also marks a moment when the legacy of his two-decade-old policy decisions is still being debated and re-examined. His death invites reflection not only on his personal resilience having survived multiple health crises and remained active in public life but on the long ripple effects of his tenure.

Whether viewed through the lens of security, executive power, legislative influence or global affairs, Cheney's imprint on American governance is hard to overstate. Yet for his family and close friends, the narrative is more personal: a husband, father, grandfather and outdoor-enthusiast who loved fly-fishing and saw service as a duty. His life thus spanned both high-stakes national drama and domestic devotion.

As the country processes his death, the path of remembrance will likely split between political legacy and personal character. For some he will remain a controversial architect of 21st-century U.S. foreign policy. For others he will be remembered more simply as Dad or Grandpa, quietly teaching the next generation values of country, courage and kindness.