Former Vice President Dick Cheney died overnight “due to complications from pneumonia and cardiovascular disease,” his family said in a statement. The former vice president struggled with heart problems throughout his life, suffering a total of five heart attacks before undergoing a heart transplant in 2012.
“Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country and to live their lives with courage, honor, love, kindness, and fishing,” his family added.
Cheney served as defense secretary during the Persian Gulf War under President George H. W. Bush. He then returned to public service as vice president to the younger Bush in the 2000 presidential election.
A hardline conservative politician, Cheney was one of the most controversial vice presidents in American history, who also represented Wyoming in Congress for 10 years.
Many considered him one of the architects of the Iraq War, as during his vice presidency he insisted on the links between Iraq, al-Qaeda, and the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.
