By: Fred Smith
Richard “Dick” Cheney, a towering and often polarizing figure in American politics, died on November 3, 2025, at the age of 84. According to a statement from his family, the cause of death was complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, a tenure widely considered the most powerful vice presidency in history.
He was a key architect of the post-9/11 “war on terror” and the subsequent 2003 invasion of Iraq, while also previously holding positions as White House Chief of Staff, a U.S. Representative from Wyoming, and Secretary of Defense. Despite surviving five heart attacks and a heart transplant, Cheney lived a long life, passing away at his home in Wilson, Wyoming, surrounded by his wife Lynne and their daughters, Liz and Mary.
Cheney’s political career began as a congressional intern in 1969. He became White House Chief of Staff for President Gerald Ford at the age of 34. He represented Wyoming in the U.S. House for six terms, from 1979 to 1989, and was known for his conservative stance.
