On the morning of November 4, 2025, it was announced that Dick Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States, passed away at age 84, due to complications of pneumonia and cardiovascular disease. He was widely regarded as the most powerful vice president in American history.
Cheney was a classic Washington insider and a mainstay of the Republican Party. He worked his way from a congressional intern to joining the White House staff under the Nixon and Ford administrations. Under President Ford, he served as White House chief of staff from 1975 to 1977. In 1978, he was elected to represent Wyoming in the U.S. House of Representatives, and he would serve in that post until 1989. He additionally served briefly as House minority whip in 1989. Later that year, he was appointed Secretary of Defense for George H.W. Bush, a position in which he would serve until the end of Bush’s term in 1993. In this position, he oversaw the U.S. invasion of Panama and the Gulf War. It was through these many political and national security positions that Cheney became an influential member of the Republican Party.
Cheney and George W. Bush in 2008. Source: AFP via Getty Images
Cheney truly rose to national prominence in July 2000, when he was picked to lead the search for George W. Bush’s running mate for the 2000 election and was eventually picked himself. He and Bush were ultimately victorious and won re-election in 2004 as well. After the 9/11 attacks, Cheney played a leading role in the War on Terror, supporting wiretapping usage by the National Security Agency and the use of “enhanced interrogation” torture mechanisms. Cheney was one of the first to back an invasion of Iraq, alleging that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and had a relationship with al-Qaeda, even though these allegations were never substantiated. He even pressured the intelligence community to provide intelligence consistent with these claims. These actions resulted in Cheney becoming one of the most polarizing figures to ever hold the office of vice president, with many comparing him to Darth Vader.
Cheney left the vice presidency in 2009 with an approval rating of 13%. In recent years, he became critical of the Republican Party, especially of President Trump. He surprised many when he endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. It goes to show how much the Republican Party has changed in the last two decades when one of its most prominent figures ends up supporting the Democratic ticket in a presidential election.
Emil Ordonez, a rising college freshman, is the founder and editor-in-chief of Polinsights. He has been deeply passionate about politics and history since learning every U.S. President at the age of five. He was compelled to start this blog after meeting many people who were misinformed or had become apathetic about how society worked. He hopes to provide factual knowledge and insights that will encourage people, especially the young, to get more engaged in their respective communities. In his free time, he edits for Wikipedia and makes maps for elections. He aspires to work in Congress or even the White House in the future.
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