Former Vice President Dick Cheney, long known as one of the most influential and polarizing figures in American politics, died Nov. 3 at the age of 84.
Architect of Post-9/11 Wars
Cheney helped direct the Persian Gulf War as defense secretary under President George H.W. Bush and later shaped U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq as vice president to George W. Bush following the Sept. 11 attacks. His defense of waterboarding and other “enhanced interrogation” methods drew widespread condemnation, with critics labeling the practices as torture.
Praised by Bush, Vilified by Critics
George W. Bush hailed Cheney as a “calm and steady presence” who prioritized America’s security during turbulent years. But Cheney’s justification for the Iraq War and interrogation tactics left a lasting mark, solidifying his reputation as one of the most divisive vice presidents in U.S. history.
Embracing the ‘Darth Vader’ Image
Frequently compared to Darth Vader for his secrecy and hardline views, Cheney leaned into the nickname. “After all, Darth Vader is one of the nicer things I’ve been called recently,” he quipped in 2007. He even displayed a trailer hitch modeled after the “Star Wars” villain, proudly declaring, “I’m rather proud of that.”
Falling Out With Trump’s GOP
In later years, Cheney and his daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, broke ranks with Donald Trump’s Republican Party. Both condemned Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and Liz Cheney joined the House committee investigating the attack.
Their criticism drew Trump’s ire, with the former president branding Dick Cheney “irrelevant” and Liz Cheney a “radical war hawk.”
A Legacy of Power and Controversy
From shaping post-9/11 national security policy to becoming a rare Republican voice against Trump, Cheney’s career spanned eras of war, reform, and political upheaval. Once reviled as the GOP’s Darth Vader, he ultimately stood as a symbol of conviction—unyielding, combative, and unapologetic to the end.
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