DICK CHENEY, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND POLARIZING VICE PRESIDENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY, HAS DIED.

HE WAS KNOWN FOR BEING THE LEADING ADVOCATE FOR THE WAR IN IRAQ FOLLWING THE TERROR ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.

CHENEY CONSISTENTLY DEFENDED THE EXTRAORDINARY TOOLS OF SURVEILLANCE, DETENTION AND INQUISITION EMPLOYED IN RESPONSE TO THE ATTACKS.

HIS VICE PRESIDENCY WAS DEFINED BY THE AGE OF TERRORISM.

FOR ADMIRERS, HE KEPT THE FAITH IN A SHAKY TIME, RESOLUTE EVEN AS THE NATION TURNED AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ.

BORN IN NEBRASKA AND RAISED IN WYOMING, CHENEY MAINTAINED A POLITICAL CAREER IN WASHINGTON THAT SPANNED DECADES.

HE SERVED UNDER SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS, FROM GERALD FORD TO RONALD REAGAN.

CHENEY SERVED FATHER AND SON PRESIDENTS, LEADING THE ARMED FORCES UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH, AND AS VICE PRESIDENT UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH.

HE FACED SEVERAL HEALTH ISSUES THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, AND HAVING SURVIVED FIVE HEART ATTACKS, HAD LONG THOUGHT HE WAS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME.

CHENEY WAS DEVOTED TO HIS FAMILY, AND SPOKE OUT ON BEHALF OF HIS DAUGHTERS, LIZ AND MARY.

SOUNDBITE (English) Former US Vice President Dick Cheney:

"Lynne and I have a gay daughter so that's an issue our family is very familiar with. We have two daughters and we have enormous pride in both of them."

AFTER LEAVING PUBLIC OFFICE, HE RETURNED TO WASHINGTON TO SUPPORT HIS OTHER DAUGHTER, REP. LIZ CHENEY, FOR BATTLING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

HOWEVER, HER VOTE TO IMPEACH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND HER WORK ON THE JAN. 6 HEARINGS, LATER LED TO HER LOSING RE-ELECTION.

BUT ALL THE WHILE, HER FATHER STOOD BY HER SIDE.

MR. CHENEY IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, LYNNE, AND THEIR DAUGHTERS, MARY AND LIZ