Passing of a Republican Titan: Former Vice President Dies at 84
The former chief of staff, congress member, defense secretary, and vice president of the United States has passed away at the age of 84, his family has confirmed.
He was renowned as one of the most influential vice presidents in history, using his political savvy and experience to guide a less experienced president in office.
Leadership During 9/11
During the horrific events of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, he was instrumental in taking control while the president was escorted to safety. Working closely with the defense secretary, they quickly mobilized troops in Afghanistan to counter the Taliban and pursue Al-Qaeda.
Controversial Decision to Invade Iraq
His legacy will forever be shaped by the decision to invade Iraq. He and the president made public justifications for the war, citing supposed links between the Iraqi dictator and Al-Qaeda, and the possibility of Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction. By the time of the invasion in March 2003, no concrete evidence had been found to support either claim, both of which were later debunked.
Despite this, he maintained that the administration "had an obligation to do whatever it took to defend America," even if it meant seeking international cooperation.
High Cost of War
The wars in the Middle East resulted in devastating loss of life. It has been estimated that since 2001, "at least 800,000 people have been killed by direct war violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan".
The treatment of prisoners captured in the so-called "war on terror" sparked controversy. Even after leaving office, he remained a staunch defender of the use of torture against detainees post 9/11.
Political Giant Despite Personal Challenges
Despite dropping out of Yale and avoiding service in Vietnam, he rose to prominence in Republican politics. He served as an aide in the White House under Nixon, the youngest ever White House chief of staff under Ford, a congress member under Reagan, defense secretary to George HW Bush, and vice president to George W Bush.
When chosen as the running mate for the 2000 presidential election, he had already survived three heart attacks. His personal life was not without its share of mishaps, once accidentally shooting a hunting partner in the face while serving as vice president.
Legacy in Politics
His daughter, Liz, followed in his political footsteps, becoming a US House representative from Wyoming, the same position he once held. However, she faced censure from the party after criticizing another high-profile figure over the events of January 6.
He himself attended an event to mark the first anniversary of January 6, expressing "deep disappointment" in the party's leadership. He was quoted saying, "It’s not a leadership that resembles any of the folks that I knew when I was here for 10 years" and "you can’t overestimate how important [January 6] is".
In a bold move, he announced that he would vote for Kamala Harris over the Republican nominee, stating that "in our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than [the Republican nominee]" and expressing his belief in putting "country above partisanship to defend our constitution".
Unashamed of His Image
In an interview around the release of a biopic starring Christian Bale, his biographer stated, "There has been some rehabilitation with George W Bush. In comparison with [another controversial figure], everyone starts to look better. But [he] liked the fact everyone called him Darth Vader. I don’t think there’ll be an effort on his part to soften his image.”