Monday's death of former Vice President Dick Cheney at age 84 has drawn reactions across the spectrum from U.S. citizens who remember a man who shaped war, peace and power for half a century.
Cheney, who served as President George W. Bush's vice president from 2001-2009, left an indelible mark on U.S. foreign policy, intelligence agencies and presidential authority. His death is prompting tributes from governors and members of Congress, and criticism from opponents.
Former President George W. Bush told Military.com the country lost “one of the most serious public servants of his generation.”
Bush said Cheney was a calm, steady presence in the White House after Sept. 11, 2001, and a leader who put national security first. The ex-president wrote that he and former First Lady Laura Bush “will remember Dick Cheney for the decent, honorable man that he was.”
Cheney, a Nebraska native, started life in Lincoln and grew into one of the most powerful national security figures in modern America.
Kindness And Fly Fishing
Cheney’s family said he died at home in Virginia, surrounded by his wife, Lynne, and daughters, Liz and Mary. The former lawmaker died of complications from pneumonia, vascular disease and cardiac failure.
In a written statement, the family called him “a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.”
“We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man," they added.
Outpouring of Remembrance
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds offered condolences and called Cheney “a remarkable statesman in Congress and the Executive Branch, in times of peace and war, at home and abroad.”
She added that “above all, he will be remembered as a patriot who dedicated his life to the service of his country.”
The Heritage Foundation, one of the nation's largest conservative movements since its 1973 institution, praised Cheney in an elaborate statement referring to him as "a committed conservative who dedicated his life to public service."
“Cheney was a kind man with high expectations and even deeper loyalty to America and its defenders, his family, and his friends," the statement reads. "He gave me great opportunities and was devoted to conservative principles and to all those he worked with. Cheney ably championed the Second Amendment, free enterprise, and a strong national defense. He was an experienced and loyal counselor to President Bush and the various American leaders he served."
They also mention how in 2002, he helped present Heritage’s highest award, the Clare Boothe Luce Award, to Lady Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He won that same award himself in 2011.
“Cheney was a patriot and a longtime friend to Heritage," Heritage added. "We will remember him with fondness and gratitude. I will miss him, and our nation owes him and his family gratitude for his long career of public service. We extend our condolences to his wife, Lynne, their two daughters, and their grandchildren.”
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) recalled how he worked with Cheney for more than 40 years.
“While we did not always agree on everything, Cheney was a man I worked with on and off for over forty years in politics and government,” Cole said.
He remembered how Cheney and Bush came to Oklahoma during his first run for Congress. “This is something I will never forget.”
Congressman Adrian Smith called Cheney “a patriot who dedicated his life to service,” adding, “from the Capitol to the Pentagon, to the White House, he left an indelible mark on history.”
Veterans Recall His Leadership
The American Legion mourned Cheney’s passing, calling him one of its “most distinguished Boys State graduates.”
In a statement to Military.com, National Commander Dan K. Wiley said: “America lost a longtime public servant, and The American Legion lost one of its most distinguished Boys State graduates.” Wiley said Cheney became a nationally known figure through his steady leadership during the Gulf War as Secretary of Defense. He added that Cheney brought “decades of experience” to the Bush administration and “nobody questioned his patriotism and love for his country.”
The Legion offered condolences to the Cheney family and to “those who knew him best in his home state of Wyoming.”
The organization also noted Cheney’s long ties to the Legion. He played baseball for American Legion Post 2 in Casper, Wyoming, and addressed national Legion gatherings as vice president.
At the American Legion’s 90th National Convention in 2008, Cheney told veterans, “The Legion serves America by leading on important issues, from health care and education, to employment opportunities for veterans, to homeland security, to a better quality of life for our military families. You proudly wear an emblem that stands ‘for God and Country,’ and the highest rights of man.”
Civil Liberties Groups See Different Legacy
Human rights advocates and other organizations offered a different perspective following Cheney's passing.
The Center for Constitutional Rights told Military.com that Cheney will be remembered for controversial post-9/11 detention and interrogation policies, citing the invasion of Iraq, surveillance programs, and the treatment of detainees. The group said its concerns reflect what it described as long-lasting impacts on civilians and detainees affected by those policies.
Federal Agencies Stay Silent
Military.com asked the Pentagon, CIA, FBI, the White House, House leadership, veteran groups, and senior national security offices for reaction. None responded at press time.
The Marine Corps replied by saying it could not provide a statement due to a funding lapse and legal restrictions.
The silence was noticeable considering that Cheney spent decades inside the same institutions that declined to comment. He served in Congress, ran the Pentagon as secretary of defense, and later became vice president. None of the agencies contacted, including the Department of Defense (War) and the White House, responded to requests for comment about his death.
The flag at the White House was lowered to half-staff around 10 a.m., several hours after his death was announced.
