Former President George W. Bush calls former Vice President Dick Cheney's death a loss to the nation.
The 79-year-old Bush said Cheney will be remembered as among the finest public servants of his generation and a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held.
In 2000, Bush had originally named Cheney as head of vice-presidential selection committee until Bush announced Cheney as his running mate.
"Dick was a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges. I counted on him for his honest, forthright counsel, and he never failed to give his best," Bush wrote in a statement. "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 said Cheney's love for America was second only to his family.
He added that he and former First Lady Laura Bush are praying for Cheney's wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary, and the Cheney family as they honor a great man.