Dick Cheney, who has died at the age of 84, had a glittering - if controversial - career in American public life. He served as President Gerald Ford's White House chief of staff in the 1970s, before spending a decade in the House of Representatives. President George H W Bush made him defence secretary during the first Gulf War and the US invasion of Panama. In 2001, Cheney became one of the most powerful vice-presidents in history. He was a key architect of President George W Bush's 'War on Terror' after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and an early advocate of the invasion of Iraq. But, in his final years, he became a bitter critic of the Republican party under the leadership of President Donald Trump. In our nation's 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic, Cheney said. Richard Bruce Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 30, 1941. His father worked for the US Department of Agriculture, and his mother had been a successful softball player in the 1930s. When he was 13, his family moved to Casper, an oil town in Wyoming. In 1959, Cheney entered Yale on a scholarship but failed to graduate. Later, he received a Master's degree in political science from the University of Wyoming but had a tumultuous early adulthood, including two drink-driving convictions. Cheney steered clear of military service by securing deferments during the Vietnam War but maintained a significant role in American politics. He became a key player under President George H W Bush as defense secretary and later as vice president under George W Bush, where his reputation as a shrewd and sometimes controversial figure was cemented. Over the years, Cheney's views shifted, and he evolved into a strong advocate for gay marriage, a significant departure from his previous conservative policies. His complicated legacy continues to evoke mixed emotions, embodying a longstanding conversation on American politics.