Richard B. Cheney, who served two terms as Vice President of the United States under George W. Bush, died last night. He was 84.
An announcement released by his family said Cheney died of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
Arguably one of the most controversial vice presidents in American history, Cheney had an eyewitness view to power in Washington after serving as White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford, as the minority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives, and as Secretary of Defense in the cabinet of President George H.W. Bush.
He led the search committee to help George W. Bush pick a running mate in 2000; his search led to him.
Cheney was on the ballot in New Jersey twice: in 2000, New Jersey’s fifteen electoral votes went to Democrats Al Gore and Joseph Lieberman in a 16-point, 504,677-vote win; and in 2004, John Kerry and John Edwards carried the state by 241,427 votes and a margin of nearly seven points.
His death leaves Dan Quayle, Al Gore, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence as living former vice presidents.
