Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush and was one of the most influential — and controversial — figures in modern American politics, has died at the age of 84.
Cheney passed away Monday night due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, November 4.
“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,” the family’s statement read. “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.”
By Narrator News | November 4, 2025 | 6 min read
A Lifetime Battle with Heart Disease
Cheney’s death followed decades of serious heart problems that began early in his political career.
He suffered five heart attacks over the course of his life — the first at age 37 during his campaign for Congress. Two more occurred during his time as a congressional representative, and a fourth heart attack came shortly after the 2000 presidential election, as the nation awaited the Supreme Court’s decision on the race between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
Despite his fragile health, Cheney continued to serve as Vice President from 2001 to 2009, a period that saw the September 11 attacks, the War on Terror, and major shifts in U.S. foreign policy.
A Heart Transplant and a Cautious Life
In later years, Cheney’s health deteriorated further. He revealed in interviews that he once disabled the wireless function of his implanted defibrillator out of concern that terrorists could remotely trigger a fatal shock — a fear that inspired widespread discussion about cybersecurity and medical technology.
According to the Associated Press, Cheney co-authored a memoir with his cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Reiner, titled “Heart: An American Medical Odyssey,” chronicling his long and complex medical journey.
“He has the longest history of heart disease of any of my patients,” Reiner said in a 2013 interview with USA TODAY. “He has the most complex history in terms of how difficult his disease became, the most number of moving parts. And he happens to be Dick Cheney.”
Cheney underwent a heart transplant in 2012, which dramatically improved his condition. In later interviews, he described the operation as life-changing and credited his medical team and donor for extending his life.
“All that’s left to show that I was a heart patient is that scar on my chest,” Cheney told USA TODAY shortly after his recovery.
Defending His Medical Journey
Throughout his later years, Cheney rejected claims that his political stature gave him preferential access to healthcare.
“It’s not true,” he said at age 72 when asked about the fairness of the transplant system.
He dedicated his memoir to his family, his medical team, and the donor of his heart, underscoring his gratitude and humility following the life-saving surgery. Cheney also publicly declared himself an organ donor, encouraging others to consider doing the same.
USA Defining Political Legacy
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1941 and raised in Wyoming, Richard Bruce Cheney rose through the ranks of U.S. politics to become one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history.
Before serving under George W. Bush, Cheney was Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, overseeing the Gulf War. His tenure as vice president was marked by strong influence on national security and foreign policy decisions following 9/11.
Despite his polarizing legacy, Cheney’s political career reshaped the Republican Party and U.S. governance in the early 21st century.
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A Life Remembered
Dick Cheney is survived by his wife, Lynne Cheney, and their two daughters, Liz Cheney, former U.S. congresswoman from Wyoming, and Mary Cheney.
His family’s tribute described him as a “noble giant of a man” — a husband, father, and grandfather whose love of country and dedication to service defined his life.
As the nation reflects on his passing, tributes continue to pour in from political leaders across the spectrum, recognizing a man whose decisions and influence left a lasting imprint on American history.