Dick Cheney dies at 84: Family confirms cause of death as pneumonia and heart disease
WASHINGTON | November 4, 2025 — Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at the age of 84. His family confirmed that the cause of death was complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
In a statement released Tuesday, Cheney’s family said the former vice president passed away Monday night, surrounded by loved ones.
“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. “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 served as Vice President under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, playing a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign and defense policy following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Widely regarded as one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history, Cheney was known for his hardline national security stance and his influence over U.S. military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
A life marked by power and perseverance
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Wyoming, Cheney’s political career spanned five decades. He served as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford, Wyoming’s representative in Congress, and Secretary of Defense under President George H. W. Bush, where he oversaw Operation Desert Storm.
Despite his formidable political career, Cheney’s life was marked by persistent heart problems. He survived five heart attacks, the first occurring at age 37 during his first congressional campaign. Over the years, he underwent multiple procedures, including the implantation of a cardiac defibrillator while in office, and a heart transplant in 2012.
In a 2013 interview, Cheney revealed he had the wireless function of his defibrillator disabled due to fears that hackers or terrorists could remotely trigger a fatal shock — a concern later dramatized in television shows and political thrillers.
Legacy
Cheney leaves behind his wife, Lynne Cheney, and their two daughters, Liz Cheney, former congresswoman from Wyoming, and Mary Cheney.
Often a polarizing figure, Cheney was admired by supporters as a steadfast patriot and strategic thinker, while critics saw him as a symbol of Washington’s interventionist policies. Even in retirement, he remained outspoken on matters of defense and governance, maintaining a deep influence over the conservative political landscape.
