Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial vice presidents in modern U.S. history, died Monday night at age 84, his family announced [1][2]. Cheney passed away due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, surrounded by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, and his daughters Liz and Mary [12][20].

A towering figure in Republican politics, Cheney served in multiple critical government roles, including White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009 [6][17]. He was widely considered a chief architect of the 'War on Terror' and a leading advocate for the 2003 Iraq invasion [6][31].

During his vice presidency, Cheney was known for significantly expanding the power of the executive branch, believing the presidency had been weakening since the Watergate scandal [8][10]. He was often described as the de facto 'chief operating officer' of the Bush administration, wielding extraordinary influence in national security decisions [24][29].

In his later years, Cheney became a notable critic of former President Donald Trump, whom he called a 'coward' and 'the greatest threat to the republic' [26][31]. In a surprising political turn, he even cast his final presidential vote for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 [26].

His family remembered 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' [12][20].