On November 3rd, 2025, Dick Cheney, 46th Vice President of the United States under George W. Bush, passed away surrounded by much love from family members. At 84 years old, Cheney died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease (CNN News).
Serving a life devoted to the U.S. government and politics, Cheney is most notably known for his advocacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and his role in shaping the response to the 9/11 attacks. He is also widely known for his powerful and controversial role in expanding presidential power and advocating for assertive national security policies.
Richard Bruce Cheney was born on January 30th, 1941, in Lincoln, Nebraska and grew up in Wyoming. From an early age, Cheney knew he wanted to be involved in politics and government. His upbringing in the rural West played a major role in shaping his later political identity: conservative and deeply connected to the energy sector. In high school, Cheney was a strong student and skilled football player. He attended Yale University on a scholarship but left shortly after due to poor grades. Returning to Wyoming to work as a lineman for a power company, Cheney developed discipline and became motivated to finish out his education to earn his Bachelor’s degree in 1965 and Master’s degree in 1966 at the University of Wyoming. He married his high school sweetheart, Lynne Vincent, in 1964, and later moved to Washington as a congressional fellow for the 1968-69 year (Historical Office).
Cheney began his federal career in 1969 as a special assistant in the Office of Economic Opportunity. By 1971, he had joined the White House as a staff assistant and later became the Assistant Director of the Cost of Living Council, serving there until 1973. After spending a year in the private sector, he returned to Washington as Deputy Assistant to President Gerald Ford (1974–75) and soon after was appointed Ford’s White House Chief of Staff from 1975–77 (Historical Office).
Dick Cheney served six terms as Wyoming’s at-large U.S. House Representative. As a congressman, he was highly conservative, a supporter of strong presidential power and a critic of the limits placed on the intelligence community after Watergate. As Representative, he was a member of the House Intelligence Committee and Chair of the House Republican Policy Committee. Under President George H. W. Bush, Cheney notably served as Secretary of Defense from 1989 to 1993, where he oversaw operations within the Gulf War and became widely known for strategic clarity and steady leadership. He presided over massive troop reductions and military base closures, as well as reorganisation of U.S. forces after the collapse of the Soviet Union during the post-Cold War transition (Historical Office).
In 2001, Dick Cheney was elected Vice President under George W. Bush, beginning his role as one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history. After 9/11, Cheney advocated for a strong, immediate military response and played a central role in shaping the “War on Terror”. He supported the invasion of Afghanistan and was a chief architect of the case for invading Iraq in 2003. Vice President Cheney’s nationwide approval ratings began to decrease due to rising violence in Iraq. When his second term in office ended in January of 2009, Cheney had one of the lowest approval ratings of any Vice President in the country’s history. He remained politically active, criticising policies of the Barack Obama Administration. He released his memoir, In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir, talking about significant political events under his role as Vice President (EBSCO).
Ramapo senior Sean O’Neil stated, “Dick Cheney really expanded the power of the vice presidency to unprecedented levels.” His legacy is widely debated and his role in changing the vice presidency.
In 2015, Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America, which he co-authored alongside his daughter, Liz Cheney, was published. The book discusses the unique and indispensable nature of American power, as well as criticism towards President Obama’s foreign policy. During Liz Cheney’s campaign for Wyoming’s at-large congressional seat, and her subsequent re-election efforts, Dick Cheney was outspoken in his support and frequently backed her in key political debates. After the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol Insurrection, he continued to stand by her as she joined the committee investigating the events and organised violence (EBSCO).
Ramapo history teacher Ms. Sibilia stated, “He was controversial in his time during the 2000’s. He took upon the views of a traditional old guard republican. He took a dominant role while serving as Vice President which in turn shifted the role of the President. We can definitely see how his time serving as Secretary of Defense under the policies of George H. W. Bush’s shaped the rest of his political career.”
Dick Cheney’s funeral took place at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, November 19, with numerous prominent political figures in attendance. Among the hundreds of mourners were President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle. A White House official confirmed to ABC News that former President Donald Trump was not invited to the funeral. Additionally, a source familiar with the matter told ABC News that Vice President JD Vance did not receive an invitation either.
Former President George W. Bush delivered a eulogy, recounting the moment he decided to select Cheney as his vice president (ABC News). Liz Cheney spoke after Bush, talking about how her father was inspired by President John F. Kennedy to live a life in public service. Reflecting on the final moments of her dad’s life, she told the crowd, “The night before my dad died, the sky about my parents’ house filled with clouds in the shape of winged angels. I’d never seen anything like it. It seemed, indeed, that angels and archangels and all the company of heaven had come to watch over him” (People Magazine). Another family member said in a statement, “Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honour, 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” (ABC News).
Dick Cheney’s life was defined by decades of public service, steadfast loyalty to his country, and a dedication to shaping U.S. policy at the highest levels. While his legacy remains complex and often debated, those who knew him remember a man committed to family, principle, and the nation he served.
