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Dick Cheney, influential and divisive vice president, dies at 84
Richard Bruce Cheney, a towering yet polarizing figure in American politics who shaped U.S. foreign policy as vice president under George W. Bush and later became a vocal critic of Donald Trump, has died at the age of 84. His career spanned five decades, from White House chief of staff to defense secretary and corporate executive, leaving an indelible mark on Republican politics.
Early life and political beginnings
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 30, 1941, Cheney grew up in Casper, Wyoming, after his family relocated when he was 13. His father worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while his mother had been a star softball player. After dropping out of Yale-where he admitted prioritizing beer over studies-he earned a master's in political science from the University of Wyoming. Twice convicted of drunk driving in his 20s, Cheney later called it a turning point: "I was headed down a bad road," he reflected.
He avoided military service during Vietnam through legal deferments, a decision that drew little scrutiny despite his later criticism of Democratic nominee John Kerry's military record. His political ascent began in 1968 as an aide to Wisconsin Congressman William Steiger, where he caught the attention of Donald Rumsfeld, who became his mentor.
Rise to power: From Ford's chief of staff to defense secretary
At 34, Cheney became President Gerald Ford's chief of staff in 1975, earning praise for his disciplined management style. After Ford's 1976 defeat, he won Wyoming's lone House seat, surviving a heart attack mid-campaign with his wife Lynne leading his effort to a landslide victory.
In Congress, Cheney emerged as a staunch conservative, backing Reagan's Cold War military buildup while opposing Nelson Mandela's release and a ban on "cop-killer" bullets. His reputation for pragmatism led George H.W. Bush to tap him as defense secretary in 1989 after the failed nomination of John Tower. Cheney oversaw the post-Cold War military drawdown but is best remembered for orchestrating the 1991 Gulf War, persuading Saudi Arabia to host 400,000 U.S. troops and routing Saddam Hussein's forces in 100 hours.
The most powerful vice president in history
Cheney re-entered government in 2001 as George W. Bush's vice president, a role he reshaped with unprecedented influence. After 9/11, he became the architect of the "War on Terror," advocating for the Iraq invasion and defending "enhanced interrogation" techniques like waterboarding. His dual offices-one in the White House, another in Congress-allowed him to bypass rivals, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, who learned of a detainee rights order only when it aired on CNN.
Controversies mounted: Halliburton, his former employer, secured lucrative Iraq contracts while he received deferred compensation; his chief of staff, Scooter Libby, was indicted for leaking a CIA agent's identity; and in 2006, Cheney accidentally shot a hunting companion, sparking national ridicule. Yet his political acumen helped secure Bush's 2004 re-election, despite pressure to drop him from the ticket.
Personal contradictions and later years
A lifelong conservative, Cheney broke ranks by opposing a constitutional ban on gay marriage, citing his daughter Mary's sexuality: "Freedom means freedom for everyone," he declared. Post-vice presidency, he criticized Obama's national security policies and clashed with Trump, calling him "a greater threat to our republic than any in 248 years." He endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024, a stunning rebuke to his former party.
Legacy: A Republican icon turned party outcast
Cheney's legacy is one of paradox. Once revered by the GOP for his hawkishness and ideological purity, he ended his career estranged from Republicans over Trump's rise. His support for gay rights and Democratic candidates confounded allies, while his unapologetic defense of executive power and military intervention cemented his place as a defining-if contentious-figure in modern U.S. history.
