Femi Ashekun/
Former United States Vice President, Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at the age of 84.
His family announced on Tuesday that he passed away from complications related to pneumonia and long-standing heart and vascular disease.
Cheney had battled serious health issues for decades, including five heart attacks and a heart transplant in 2012.
Born on January 39, 1941 in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney rose from modest beginnings in Wyoming to become one of Washington’s most formidable political strategists.
He served as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford between 1975 and 1977, then as Wyoming’s sole member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1989.
In 1989, he joined President George H.W. Bush’s administration as Secretary of Defence, overseeing the U.S.-led coalition that expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait during the Gulf War.
His reputation as a hard-line conservative and adept bureaucratic operator was cemented during this period.
Cheney returned to government in 2001 as Vice President under George W. Bush, a role in which he wielded unprecedented influence.
He played a central part in shaping U.S. national security and foreign policy after the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks, including the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and the expansion of counterterrorism powers through surveillance and detention policies.
While his supporters praised him for his steady leadership in times of crisis, critics accused him of manipulating intelligence to justify the 2003 Iraq invasion and promoting policies that curtailed civil liberties.
His vice presidency remains one of the most divisive in U.S. history, earning him both deep loyalty and intense opposition.
In a statement following his death, former President George W. Bush paid tribute, describing Cheney as “a decent, honourable man” and “a patriot who served his country with dedication.”
Cheney is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, and their two daughters, Liz Cheney, a former U.S. congresswoman, and Mary Cheney.
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