Former President Clinton Reflects on Cheney’s Legacy
Former President Bill Clinton expressed his condolences on Tuesday following the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who passed away on Monday at age 84.
“Dick Cheney was guided by a belief that he was doing what was right for America throughout his long career,” Clinton remarked in a brief message shared on social media.
He added, “While we often disagreed, I always admired his commitment to the country and his unwavering sense of duty. My thoughts are with Lynn and the Cheney family.”
Cheney’s family announced that he died due to complications from pneumonia and cardiovascular disease.
Clinton’s tribute followed one from former President George W. Bush, who remembered Cheney as “the finest public servant of his generation, a patriot who brought integrity, intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every role he held.”
Bush highlighted Cheney’s career—from serving as chief of staff to President Gerald Ford to being a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, and he noted Cheney’s role as secretary of defense under George H.W. Bush before becoming vice president under George W. Bush.
“As a young White House aide, chief of staff, member of Congress, and my vice president, Dick earned the trust and admiration of five presidents,” Bush wrote.
He also mentioned that Cheney’s love for America was only surpassed by his love for his family.
Cheney is often recognized as one of the most influential vice presidents in U.S. history, playing a key role in shaping the “war on terror” following the September 11, 2001 attacks. He faced substantial criticism after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where he asserted that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.
Cheney suggested a link between the 9/11 attacks and Iraq, claiming that U.S. forces would be welcomed as liberators, but these expectations did not materialize.
By the time President Obama took office in early 2009, Cheney had a relatively low approval rating of 31 percent, according to the Pew Research Center.
In 2014, a Senate Intelligence Committee report indicated that enhanced interrogation methods were employed during the “war on terror,” a practice Cheney defended by stating, “We’ll do it again in a heartbeat.”
In recent years, Cheney has been critical of President Trump, and he supported former Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 election, stating, “In the 246-year history of our country, no one has posed a greater threat to our country than Donald Trump.” He criticized Trump for attempting to overturn the previous election through deceit and violence, labeling him a coward.
