Former President George W. Bush mourned the loss of his former vice president and close confidant, Dick Cheney, who died Monday evening at age 84.
In a statement Tuesday, Bush said Cheney’s death “is a loss to the nation and a sorrow to his friends,” as he praised the former Washington insider for his career of public service, his dedication to “the country he loved” and his reliable counsel during their time in the White House.
“Laura and I will remember Dick Cheney for the decent, honorable man that he was. History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held,” Bush wrote in his statement.
Bush recalled picking Cheney to be his vice president, a position that Cheney later transformed from a ceremonial post to one with considerable influence over key policy issues, including terrorism, presidential power, the Iraq War and energy.
Dick Cheney, former vice president, dies at 84
“As a young White House aide and chief of staff, a Congressman, a Secretary of Defense, and my Vice President, Dick earned the confidence and high opinion of five presidents,” Bush wrote.
“I asked him to join my ticket in 2000 after first enlisting him to help me find the best running mate,” he continued. “In our long discussions about the qualities a vice president should have – deep experience, mature judgment, character, loyalty – I realized that Dick Cheney was the one I needed. I’m still grateful that he was at my side for the eight years that followed.”
Cheney would become known as one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in history, as he advocated for the invasion of Iraq and defended controversial tools of surveillance and detention following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S.
“Dick was a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges,” Bush wrote. “I counted on him for his honest, forthright counsel, and he never failed to give his best. He held to his convictions and prioritized the freedom and security of the American people.”
“For those two terms in office, and throughout his remarkable career, Dick Cheney’s service always reflected credit on the country he loved.”
Bush extended his sympathies to the Cheneys, noting, “Dick’s love for America was second only to his family.”
“Laura and I have shared our deepest sympathies with Vice President Cheney’s wife Lynne and their daughters and granddaughters of whom he was so deeply proud. We are praying for Lynne, Liz, Mary, and the Cheney family as they honor a great man,” he added.
