Former U.S. President George W. Bush paid tribute to his vice president, Dick Cheney, who passed away on Monday, calling his death “a great loss for the nation.”
In his statement, Bush said, “Cheney’s passing is a loss for the nation and a sorrow for his friends.”
“I, along with Laura, will remember Dick Cheney as the good and honorable man he was. History will remember him as one of the finest public servants of his generation—a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness to every position he held,” the statement reads.
The former president also recalled the moment he realized Cheney would be the right choice as his vice president.
“In our long discussions about the qualities a vice president should possess—deep experience, mature judgment, character, loyalty—I realized that Dick Cheney was exactly the person I needed. I am still grateful that he stood by my side for the eight years that followed. Dick was a calm and steady presence in the White House amid major national challenges. I relied on his honest and straightforward advice, and he never failed to give his best. He remained true to his convictions and prioritized the freedom and security of the American people,” Bush added in his statement.
