On Tuesday, Nov. 4, former Vice President Richard B. Cheney died from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. He was 84.
Cheney was known for his decades of public service and central role in shaping the United States’ defense policy after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Cheney served as vice president under George W. Bush from 2001-2009 and served a vital role in our country’s invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003). Cheney also served as a United States congressman and as defense secretary under George H. W. Bush.
Cheney suffered serious health issues throughout his career, including five heart attacks. In 2012, Cheney received a heart transplant following years of cardiac complications and procedures.
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Former President George W. Bush described Cheney as an “honorable man” and one of the “finest public servants of his generation.” Bush’s statement is as follows:
The death of Richard B. Cheney is a loss to the nation and a sorrow to his friends. Laura and I will remember Dick Cheney for the decent, honorable man that he was. History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held. As a young White House aide and chief of staff, a Congressman, a Secretary of Defense, and my Vice President, Dick earned the confidence and high opinion of five presidents. I asked him to join my ticket in 2000 after first enlisting him to help me find the best running mate. In our long discussions about the qualities a vice president should have – deep experience, mature judgment, character, loyalty—I realized that Dick Cheney was the one I needed. I’m still grateful that he was at my side for the eight years that followed. Dick was a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges. I counted on him for his honest, forthright counsel, and he never failed to give his best. He held to his convictions and prioritized the freedom and security of the American people. For those two terms in office, and throughout his remarkable career, Dick Cheney’s service always reflected credit on the country he loved. Dick’s love for America was second only to his family. Laura and I have shared our deepest sympathies with Vice President Cheney’s wife Lynne and their daughters and granddaughters of whom he was so deeply proud. We are praying for Lynne, Liz, Mary, and the Cheney family as they honor a great man.
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