Former US vice-president Dick Cheney die at age 84

Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney don die at di age of 84

Cheney, wey be VP under Republican President George W Bush from 2001 to 2009, bin die from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease on Monday night, im family tok.

"Richard B. Cheney, di 46th Vice President of di United States, die last night, November 3, 2025. E be 84 years old.

"Im beloved wife of 61 years, Lynne, im daughters, Liz and Mary, plus oda family members dey wit am as e pass."

Cheney bin dey part of di Republican administration of former president George W Bush.

E be central figure for di 2003 invasion of Iraq by di US and allied forces.

Dick Cheney bin serve as di vice-president to Republican President George W Bush between 2001 and 2009.

E also serve as secretary of defence under George Bush Snr, between 1989 and 1993.

Bifor dat, Cheney bin act as Gerald Ford White House chief of staff for di 1970s, bifor e spend a decade for di House of Representatives.

For 2001, Cheney bicom one of di most powerful vice-presidents for history.

E be key architect of President George W Bush "War on Terror" afta di 9/11 terrorist attacks, and early advocate of di invasion of Iraq.

E bin serve as President Gerald Ford White House chief of staff for di 1970s, bifor e spend 10 years for di House of Representatives.

President George HW Bush make am defence secretary during di first Gulf War and di US invasion of Panama.

A former businessman, Cheney bin serve as di chairman of defence firm Halliburton, and for im personal life, e be correct hunter – as e accidentally shoot one of im friend as dem dey hunt.

Recently, e cause political controversy wen e throw im support behind Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris for di 2024 US election.

But, for im final years, e turn to bitter critic of di Republican Party under di leadership of President Donald Trump.

"In our nation 248-year history, no pesin don ever be greater threat to our republic," Cheney tok about Trump.

Dem born Richard Bruce Cheney for Lincoln, Nebraska, on 30 January 1941.

Im papa work for di US Department of Agriculture, while im mama na successful softball player for di 1930s.

Wen e be 13, im family move go Casper, one oil town for Wyoming. For 1959, Cheney get admission to Yale on scholarship, but e fail to graduate.

E confess say im bin move wit "some kindred souls, young men like me wey no dey adjust very well [to Yale] and share my opinion say beer na one of di essentials of life."

E later get Master's degree in political science from di University of Wyoming but - like im future boss, George W Bush, e continue to dey go party.

For im early 20s, Cheney dey convicted twice of drink-driving. Di incidents later make am focus im mind on di future.

"I dey go down a bad road if I continue on dat course," e tok.

For 1959, wen e bicom qualified to join di military, Cheney try every legal avenue to avoid putting on uniform.

E bin get judgements to delay am, first so dat e go fit finish im college course and den wen im new wife, Lynne bicom pregnant.

"I no regret di decisions I make," e later tok. "I bin comply fully wit all di requirements of di statutes, I register wit di draft wen I turn 18. If to say dem draft me, I for dey happy to serve."

Surprisingly, e no bicom major campaign issue wen e bin dey run for di vice-presidency, even afta Cheney question di ability of di Democratic presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry – wey be Vietnam veteran - to serve as commander in chief.

Dick Cheney first taste of Washington na for 1968 wen e work for William Steiger, one young republican representative from Wisconsin.

Legend tok say e catch di eye of Donald Rumsfeld, former defence secretary, wen e dey about to take ova for di Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) under President Richard Nixon.

Rumsfeld mentor Cheney, first for di OEO, and den for di Ford White House.

Wen Gerald Ford make Rumsfeld im defence secretary for 1975, Cheney see imsef as di chief of staff for di White House. At just 34 years old.

Cheney bin prove to be a popular and approachable master of ceremonies.

"E make di system run," Brent Scowcroft, Ford national security adviser tok. "Everybody get access to di president, but e dey smooth, orderly. E no try to be deputy president."

Wen Ford lost di presidency for 1976, Cheney bin return to Wyoming to run for dia House of Representatives seat.

But, weeks into di campaign and smoking three packets of cigarettes a day, e get di first of im many heart attacks.

As e dey recover, Lynne continue to campaign on im behalf - and Cheney win wit an impressive 59% of di vote.

During im years for di House, e support Ronald Reagan big Cold War increase in defence spending.

More controversially, e kick against di release of Nelson Mandela from jail and e be one of only 21 congressmen to vote against di prohibition of armour-piercing "cop killer" bullets.