Former US Vice President Dick Cheney has died of complications from pneumonia and cardio and vascular disease, his family said in a statement Tuesday. He was 84.

Cheney served as vice president under President George W Bush and as defence secretary under his father, President George HW Bush. Before that he served in the US House as a Republican from Wyoming and as White House chief of staff for President Gerald Ford.

“Dick Cheney was 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,” his family said. “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.”

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