--- title: Dick Cheney Dead: Tributes Pour in For Former Vice President description: Cheney is commonly regarded as one of the most influential Vice Presidents in U.S. history. canonical: https://time.com/7330841/dick-cheney-dead-age-84-former-vice-president/ author: Olivia-Anne Cleary article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-11-04T11:54:53.000Z article:modified_time: 2025-11-10T18:00:42.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Dick Cheney Dead: Tributes Pour in For Former Vice President og:description: Cheney is commonly regarded as one of the most influential Vice Presidents in U.S. history. og:url: https://time.com/7330841/dick-cheney-dead-age-84-former-vice-president/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte952f16b63885c58/6998cb5b9fbc7ca3d8d9a94c/GettyImages-108986758.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Conservative Political Action Conference Draws Major Leaders From The Right og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Dick Cheney Dead: Tributes Pour in For Former Vice President twitter:description: Cheney is commonly regarded as one of the most influential Vice Presidents in U.S. history. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte952f16b63885c58/6998cb5b9fbc7ca3d8d9a94c/GettyImages-108986758.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Tributes Pour In for Former Vice President Dick Cheney, Who Has Died at 84 > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=27e6b449-cb33-4eee-9b9d-1dd1bfc58318&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Beyond 9/11: Dick Cheney [Watch (HLS stream): Beyond 9/11: Dick Cheney](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/LBOu6pHY.m3u8) (8:05)  _Published 2014-05-15_  by [Olivia-Anne Cleary](https://time.com/author/olivia-anne-cleary/)  ## Olivia-Anne Cleary Cleary is an editor at TIME, based in the London bureau. Updated: Nov 10, 2025 6:00 PM UTCPublished: Nov 4, 2025 11:54 AM UTC  Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney attends the Conservative Political Action conference (CPAC), on Feb. 10, 2011\. in Washington, D.C. Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney attends the Conservative Political Action conference (CPAC), on Feb. 10, 2011\. in Washington, D.C. Mark Wilson—Getty Images  by [Olivia-Anne Cleary](https://time.com/author/olivia-anne-cleary/)  ## Olivia-Anne Cleary Cleary is an editor at TIME, based in the London bureau. Updated: Nov 10, 2025 6:00 PM UTCPublished: Nov 4, 2025 11:54 AM UTC Dick Cheney, the Republican who [served alongside President George W. Bush](https://time.com/7330901/dick-cheney-obit-former-vice-president/) for two terms between 2001 and 2009 and is commonly regarded as one of the most influential Vice Presidents in U.S. history, has died at age 84. The 46th Vice President, a leading force behind the invasion of Iraq and the "War on Terror," passed away on Monday night as a result of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, per a statement from his family. (Cheney had long suffered with cardiovascular issues. He experienced the first of five heart attacks at age 37, and eventually underwent a heart transplant in 2012.) “For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming’s Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President of the United States,” read the family's tribute, acknowledging that Cheney served father-son Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. “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. 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 is survived by his “beloved wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters, Liz and Mary, and other family members \[who\] were with him as he passed.” **Read More**:[ _Dick Cheney Was the Most Powerful—and Polarizing—Vice President in U.S. History_](https://time.com/7330901/dick-cheney-obit-former-vice-president/) The former Vice President's daughter, Liz Cheney, is an attorney and the former Representative of Wyoming. She, along with her late father, notably incurred the wrath of President Donald Trump when she became a vocal critic of him. Liz was [ostracized by Trump-backed Republicans](https://time.com/6206659/liz-cheney-loses-primary-wyoming/) after she sat as one of 10 House Republicans who voted to[ impeach Trump over allegations ](https://time.com/5928988/donald-trump-impeached-second-time/)that he incited the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Cheney [released a statement](https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1832167027114410348) announcing his [endorsement of Democratic nominee](https://time.com/7018941/dick-cheney-reason-for-endorsing-kamala-harris-over-donald-trump/), then-Vice President Kamala Harris for President over Trump in September 2024. Speaking out against Trump, Cheney argued that he could “never be trusted with power again.” [](https://www.google.com/search?sca%5Fesv=5d00e0a4043178f7&rlz=1C5GCEM%5FenGB1074GB1074&q=liz+cheney&si=AMgyJEuYX5Hw7261KZxKc6opSy4gInxyaSCs7RP0XokElhMJe-rQ7f3hI4ZlLQA%5FMcm%5FL73fQ0vuP7kUPwM5KtDXLbGPGisqjhEVRCvte7KUXXbb-DgwMeU%3D&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwj%5F7aHputiQAxWKwAIHHayDMz0QyNoBKAB6BAgcEAA&ictx=1)Trump responded by calling the former Vice President an “irrelevant RINO”— which stands for Republican in Name Only and is a term used by some to describe Republicans who are viewed as being disloyal to the party.  Former President Bush holds a press conference at Crawford Ranch in Texas on Aug. 23, 2004, along with then-Vice President Dick Cheney. Gamma-Rapho—Getty Images Cheney, a polarizing figure, is most often mentioned in regard to his involvement [in the U.S. invasion of Iraq](https://time.com/3423167/a-decade-of-war-in-iraq-the-images-that-moved-them-most/), and leaves behind a complicated legacy. In [a 2006 interview with TIME](https://time.com/archive/6921260/exclusive-interview-cheney-on-elections-and-iraq/), the then-Vice President was asked how he thought, or would like, history to judge the Bush-Cheney Administration. "My guess is that the judgment will be very favorable," Cheney replied, before discussing the Administration's actions after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. "With 9/11, we have been very aggressive in terms of both carrying the fight to the enemy, going after the terrorists, going after the state sponsors of terror, going after those who could conceivably equip the terrorists with deadlier technologies than they’ve used before," Cheney said. "The ultimate threat here isn’t 19 guys armed with airliners; it’s 19 guys in the middle of one of our cities with a nuclear weapon. That’s the ultimate threat we have to deal with these days. And all of that was brought home by 9/11." --- Born Richard Bruce Cheney in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Jan. 30, 1941, the former Vice President went to the Hill in the late 60s to serve as a congressional fellow. He was later picked by Donald Rumsfeld as his deputy White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford and then succeeded his mentor in 1975, becoming the new chief of staff at just 34 years old. Cheney experienced a rapid ascent in Washington, serving as the Secretary of Defense before eventually becoming George W. Bush's Vice President in 2001\. He then had a very public, embattled fall from grace when the secret torture and surveillance programs he had put in place post-9/11 were uncovered and he argued with the Supreme Court about access to documents from a task force he led.  Then-newly-designated Chief of Staff Richard B Cheney pictured in his office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, 1975. Bettmann Archive—Getty Images As Washington, D.C. awoke on Tuesday morning to the news of Cheney's passing, tributes started to pour in. Leading the way, former President George W. Bush referred to Cheney's death as "a loss to the nation and a sorrow to his friends." You can read his statement in full, below: "\[My wife\] 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." Despite Cheney's disagreements with the Trump Administration, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the "scripture is very clear, we give honor where honor is due." "Even when we had political differences as somebody later in life, you have to honor the sacrifices and the service they gave to their country," Johnson emphasized. Flags at the White House were lowered to half-staff on Tuesday morning, in tribute of Cheney. Republican Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas has also said his "prayers are with the Cheney family." "Dick Cheney was a dedicated public servant and committed to the safety and security of his fellow Americans," [said Womack](https://x.com/rep%5Fstevewomack/status/1985693819002630217). "I first met him when he visited my battalion (Gunslingers) deployed to the Sinai, Egypt in 2002, and had the opportunity to reconnect with him years later fishing for cutthroat trout on the Snake River." Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming [said](https://x.com/SenJohnBarrasso/status/1985711428204994982) his state "mourns the passing" of Cheney. "From high school football star to White House Chief of Staff, Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President, Dick’s career has few peers in American life. His unflinching leadership shaped many of the biggest moments in domestic and U.S. foreign policy for decades," said Barrasso. "Dick will be remembered as a towering figure who helped guide the course of history in Wyoming, the United States, and around the world. My prayers are with Lynne, with Liz and Mary, and his grandchildren as they celebrate an incredible man." Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida [said](https://x.com/SenRickScott/status/1985687461717049729) Cheney "dedicated his life to serving our nation" and remembered his love of "his family and country." Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma [said](https://x.com/TomColeOK04/status/1985710246602408058) that while he did not agree with Cheney on everything, they had built up a strong working relationship over a forty-year period. "Dick Cheney was a controversial and often divisive political figure, but he was deeply loyal to his family, his country, his political party, and his conservative convictions," noted Cole. "As a former Secretary of Defense, Cheney was a proud and effective proponent for the United States military. He always believed that American leadership was indispensable in a dangerous and chaotic world." Republican Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama [highlighted](https://x.com/GovernorKayIvey/status/1985710101945024864) Cheney's leadership after 9/11. "He was a dedicated public servant and helped our country stand tall during pivotal times such as 9/11\. His mission was preserving our freedoms in this country, and we thank him for his service," she said. Republican Rep. Troy Balderson of Ohio [offered](https://x.com/RepBalderson/status/1985708622681149535) his condolences and referred to Cheney as "a dedicated public servant and steadfast leader who devoted his life to serving the nation he loved." International figures in the world of politics have also remembered Cheney. In a statement shared by his office, Israeli President Isaac Herzog [said](https://x.com/IsraelPresident/status/1985717589918573040): "I heard with great sorrow of the passing of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, a great friend and steadfast supporter of the State of Israel. My deepest condolences to his family and to the American people." _—Callum Sutherland contributed reporting._ ## Transcript I'm **** Chaney, former Vice President. On September 11, 2001 I began the day in my West Wing office in the White House. My secretary, called in on the intercom to tell me that a plane had struck the World Trade Center in New York. And, turned on the TV and were surprised like everyone. Fantastic clear, clear day that, there been this apparent accident. And then, as we watched we saw the second plane strike, and, then we knew it was a terrorist attack. Then my secret service agent, lead agent came bursting through the door of my office and said, sir, we have to leave now. Moved me as fast as he could out to the the West Wing and down into the tunnel that leads to the Emergency Operations Center. And the agent informed me then that the reason he'd moved me. Was because he received word over as his radio; that was an airplane headed for crown. Which is the code name for the White House at a very high rated speed coming in from the west. Then we had reports that there were bombings across Washington. And there had been a car bomb at the State Department and, another explosion at the Lincoln Memorial, and so forth. A lot of that turned out to be false reporting, it wasn't true. But initially there was a, you know, the fog of war, I guess it'd be the best way to describe it. We'd watched all of it on television, on the day of the event, seen the airplanes hit. Seeing the, the, World Trade Center collapse, both buildings. But, there was something, more striking, when you were actually on the site. Seen it in, in the, in the not electronically or not over television but, but actually seeing it in person. They had, had the security. Obviously heavier than I'd seen before. In New York but a lot of the streets blocked off and so forth. When they were taking me from the hotel, the Waldorf, back out to the airport to fly back to Washington. And I was concerned that there'd be a lot of angry New Yorkers at the traffic being shut down. And they aren't bashful about expressing their, their views and their sentiments. Remarkable thing that night was that even though the traffic had been blocked as we drove through the streets of New York. People were out their cars applauding. We had always treated terrorist attacks before. Well, there was the bombing of the U. S. S. Cole in Yemen in 2000 or the attack on our embassies in East Africa. First attack on the World Trade Center in '93. We'd always looked on those primarily as a law enforcement problem. The approach had been more one of going out and finding the guilty party, bring 'em to trial, and put 'em in the slammer. After 9 11 you couldn't look on those as just law enforcement problems anymore. It was such a massive attack killed so many of our people it clearly was an act of war. And that's significant shift its more than just rhetoric. It means that you're gonna use all of the means available. And it lead directly to such things as the terrorist surveillance program. Where we significantly enhanced our ability to intercept communications coming from suspected site or individual overseas into the United States. Our enhanced interrogation program, once we captured someone like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. It was very important we find out what they knew. Not everybody agreed that that was the right way to go. President and I felt very strongly that it was. And took the necessary steps to make it happen. We were convinced, ah, I think most people were, in the immediate aftermath of 9 11, that there was likely to be another attack. And we did everything we could to prevent it. We were successful for seven and a half years. As I review it now, and I think back on it, I think it was exactly the right thing to do. Well, the first priority obviously, was Afghanistan. Because that's where Osama Bin Laden was. That's where, Al- Qaeda had been headquartered. And so, first, we moved in Afghanistan. Iraq was of concern, because, you had a situation in which we were focused especially on this problem of, weapons of mass destruction. Combine with terrorists and the possibility of terrorists acquiring that kinda of capability. We also had extensive reporting that showed that the Iraqi Regime was engaged with terrorists. It was already the policy of the United States government. Going back to 98 and the Clinton administration. That Congress had passed legislation establishing, as U. S. policy, changing the regime in Iraq. That wasn't something we came up with, that was something the Clinton administration came up with. So the decision was made to go in and take down the regime. We did. It's been expensive in terms of lives. It's been expensive in terms of finances. We're not out of the woods by any means yet. But, we, I think we're much better off today than we would have been before. There are, there are other things I suppose that, I think my time might have been somewhat different. If it hadn't been for 9 11, I was delighted to have the opportunity to serve. I'll always be grateful to George Bush, for having selected me, and, and giving me that opportunity. He told me, when he picked me, that it was because he wanted me to have a, a significant substantive role in his administration. And he kept his word, and I say I'll always be grateful. As I look back on those years, various things I got to do, I consider myself very fortunate. But in terms of how I did or giving myself a grade I'll let others worry about that. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] I'm not obviously a big supporter of the President Obama, but I gave him credit where I thought credit was due. He made the decision to send in the Navy Seals, Seal Team 6. And they did a superb job, they were able to, in effect, take down the compound and, kill Bin Laden. I think it's, not wise, for us to assume at this point, that, all is, is safe and secure out there. I'm still very concerned about the possibility that there will be more attacks. And that the next attacks will use deadlier substances than anything we've seen to date. Only vigilance and a lot of good hard work will guarantee that we can defeat any such attack in the future. And we have to stay very much on top of this. It's easy for us to say, well, it's been ten years. You know, sorta relax and not worry about it any more. But that'd be a big mistake. 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