October 21, 2013

Former Vice President Dick Cheney told 60 Minutes, in an interview broadcast on Sunday, that he disabled his defibrillator's wireless function out of fear that terrorists might send his heart a fatal shock. "I was aware of the danger...that existed...I found it credible," Cheney says. "I know from the experience we had and the necessity for adjusting my own device, that it was an accurate portrayal of what was possible." He also reveals that he saw an episode of Homeland several years later where that very terrorist plot was used. Cheney suffered five heart attacks and underwent a quadruple bypass operation, but insists that the stresses of being vice president did not contribute to his health woes.

Also revealed, On March 28, 2001, just 67 days after taking office, Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a letter of resignation to President Bush. In light of his poor health, and realizing there was no contitutional provision to replace an incapacitated vice president, Cheney took the preemptive step by drafting a "pending" resignation. Bush was "a little surprised. But he thought it was a good idea," the controversial former vice president said during his interview with Sanjay Gupta on Sunday's "60 Minutes."

Cheney and his doctor, cardiologist Jonathan Reiner, are promoting their co-authored book, “Heart: An American Medical Odyssey.”

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