Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in US history, dies at 8411/04/2025WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President George W. Bush says Dick Cheney was a “decent, honorable man” whose death is “a loss to the nation.” Cheney's family says he died Monday of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Bush said Tuesday history will remember his vice president “as among the finest public servants of his generation.” Cheney was a hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq. Cheney led the armed forces as defense chief during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush before returning to public life as vice president under the younger Bush.