Former US Vice President Dick Cheney, widely regarded as the most powerful individual to hold the second-highest office, died at the age of 84 from complications related to cardiac and vascular disease on November 3.
Cheney’s four decades in public life, in which he was Chief of Staff for President Ford to Secretary of Defence under Bush Sr, were ultimately defined by his hawkish advocacy for the 2003 Iraq War and the profound expansion of executive power in the post-9/11 era.
Controversial architect of Iraq War and unsubstantiated claims
Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. Following the September 11th attacks, he became the primary architect of the administration’s “War on Terror” strategy. He was the most forceful voice pushing for the invasion of Iraq, frequently citing intelligence that claimed Saddam Hussein possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and had an “operational relationship with Al-Qaeda“.
The allegations were later proven to be totally unsubstantiated, but Cheney remained unapologetic, defending his stance that the invasion was the “right thing to do“. His commitment to unilateral power led to his endorsement of controversial policies like the NSA’s wiretapping programme and “enhanced interrogation” techniques.
The Halliburton controversy and enduring heart battle
Cheney’s vice presidency was shadowed by intense scrutiny over his prior role as Chairman and CEO of Halliburton Company (1995–2000), a major oil and gas service supplier. Following the Iraq invasion, Halliburton’s subsidiary, KBR, received billions in lucrative, often no-bid, government contracts for military and reconstruction services, leading to controversy over potential conflicts of interest.
Behind the scenes of his political career, Cheney fought a lifelong battle with chronic heart disease, having suffered his first of five heart attacks at age 37 while running for Congress. The former VP underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 1988, and his life was prolonged through medical innovation, culminating in a heart transplant in 2012.
A final break with the modern Republican Party
In his later years, the conservative stalwart positioned himself as a fierce critic of Donald Trump, labelling him the “greatest threat to our republic”. This defiance against the populist wing of the Republican Party, especially alongside his daughter Liz Cheney, led to his symbolic break with the modern conservative establishment, a remarkable end to a singular political career.
