Dick Cheney, a prominent figure in American politics and a key architect of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, has died at the age of 84. His family announced that he passed away on Monday night due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.

Cheney served as vice president under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. He was a significant player in Washington long before his vice presidency, having previously held positions as a congressman from Wyoming and Secretary of Defense. When Bush selected him as his running mate in the 2000 presidential election, Cheney was already a well-established figure in the Republican Party.

During his time in office, Cheney was a strong advocate for expanding presidential powers, believing that the authority of the office had diminished since the Watergate scandal. He played a crucial role in shaping national security policy and was instrumental in forming a national security team that often operated as a powerful entity within the administration.

Cheney was one of the most vocal proponents of the Iraq War, frequently warning about the threat posed by Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. However, no such weapons were ever found. His tenure was marked by clashes with other senior officials, including Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, particularly over foreign policy and military strategy.

He also defended controversial interrogation techniques used on terrorism suspects, which included methods such as waterboarding and sleep deprivation. Critics, including the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and various human rights organizations, labeled these practices as torture.

Cheney's daughter, Liz Cheney, followed in his political footsteps, serving in the House of Representatives. She became a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump, which ultimately led to her losing her seat in Congress. Dick Cheney publicly supported his daughter's stance against Trump and indicated he would vote for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

Throughout his life, Cheney faced significant health challenges, suffering his first heart attack at the age of 37. He underwent a heart transplant in 2012 and had multiple heart-related issues over the years. Despite these challenges, he remained a formidable presence in American politics until his passing, leaving behind a complex legacy as one of the most influential vice presidents in U.S. history.