In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 1,039 ratings · 163 reviews

In this eagerly anticipated memoir, former Vice President Dick Cheney delivers an unyielding portrait of American politics over nearly forty years and shares personal reflections on his role as one of the most steadfast and influential statesmen in the history of our country.The public perception of Dick Cheney has long been something of a contradiction. He has been viewed...more In this eagerly anticipated memoir, former Vice President Dick Cheney delivers an unyielding portrait of American politics over nearly forty years and shares personal reflections on his role as one of the most steadfast and influential statesmen in the history of our country.The public perception of Dick Cheney has long been something of a contradiction. He has been viewed as one of the most powerful vice presidents—secretive, even mysterious, and at the same time opinionated and unflinchingly outspoken. He has been both praised and attacked by his peers, the press, and the public. Through it all, courting only the ideals that define him, he has remained true to himself, his principles, his family, and his country. Now in an enlightening and provocative memoir, a stately page-turner with flashes of surprising humor and remarkable candor, Dick Cheney takes readers through his experiences as family man, policymaker, businessman, and politician during years that shaped our collective history.

Born into a family of New Deal Democrats in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney was the son of a father at war and a high-spirited and resilient mother. He came of age in Casper, Wyoming, playing baseball and football and, as senior class president, courting homecoming queen Lynne Vincent, whom he later married. This all-American story took an abrupt turn when he flunked out of Yale University, signed on to build power line in the West, and started living as hard as he worked. Cheney tells the story of how he got himself back on track and began an extraordinary ascent to the heights of American public life, where he would remain for nearly four decades:

* He was the youngest White House Chief of Staff, working for President Gerald Ford—the first of four chief executives he would come to know well.

* He became Congressman from Wyoming and was soon a member of the congressional leadership working closely with President Ronald Reagan.

* He became secretary of defense in the George H. W. Bush administration, overseeing America’s military during Operation Desert Storm and in the historic transition at the end of the Cold War.

* He was CEO of Halliburton, a Fortune 500 company with projects and personnel around the globe.

* He became the first vice president of the United States to serve out his term of office in the twenty-first century. Working with George W. Bush from the beginning of the global war on terror, he was—and remains—an outspoken defender of taking every step necessary to defend the nation.

Eyewitness to history at the highest levels, Cheney brings to life scenes from past and present. He describes driving through the White House gates on August 9, 1974, just hours after Richard Nixon resigned, to begin work on the Ford transition; and he portrays a time of national crisis a quarter century later when, on September 11, 2001, he was in the White House bunker and conveyed orders to shoot down a hijacked airliner if it would not divert.

With its unique perspective on a remarkable span of American history, In My Time will enlighten. As an intimate and personal chronicle, it will surprise, move, and inspire. Dick Cheney’s is an enduring political vision to be reckoned with and admired for its honesty, its wisdom, and its resonance. In My Time is truly the last word about an incredible political era, by a man who lived it and helped define it—with courage and without compromise.(less)

ebook, 576 pages

Published August 30th 2011 by Threshold Editions

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,054)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 21, 2012 Mike rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

I just finished reading "In My Time" by Dick Cheney. This is a great book! Whatever your politics (and mine are rarely the same as Mr. Cheney’s) there is no denying that Dick Cheney played a huge role in the American public leadership over two generations. From White House chief of staff to Congressional leader to Cabinet Secretary to corporate CEO to likely the most influential Vice President ...the USA has ever seen Cheney never shied away from expressing and defending his point of view.

Like a...more I just finished reading "In My Time" by Dick Cheney. This is a great book! Whatever your politics (and mine are rarely the same as Mr. Cheney’s) there is no denying that Dick Cheney played a huge role in the American public leadership over two generations. From White House chief of staff to Congressional leader to Cabinet Secretary to corporate CEO to likely the most influential Vice President ...the USA has ever seen Cheney never shied away from expressing and defending his point of view.

Like anyone who remains true to their principles in today’s overly pragmatic world Cheney has attracted more than his share of criticism and envy. I do not defend his views on torture or as he refers to it “enhanced interrogation” but I recognize that at times of extremism we may need leadership that does what we would rather not see done. Say what you will, Cheney led; he was true to his own beliefs and for that I respect him although I often disagree with the views he expressed. Honestly the administration which has followed Bush/Cheney espouses views which are closer to what I believe but their inability to realistically enact any vision (they can’t “walk the talk”) means that they are somewhere between sad and failure.

Reading “In My Time” I often had the sense that Cheney wasn’t telling us everything he knew. Well it is his story and he shares insights that we can gather nowhere else. Serious students of the time will need to do more research to round out their knowledge of events and people.

Cheney never leaves us guessing about where he stands on an issue or what he thinks about the people with whom he shared the stage. He is loyal to George W. Bush as his president but he also points out many of the disagreements the two men had. Cheney clearly has little time or use for the US State Department and especially not for the first Secretary of State of the Bush administration. I think that Cheney dramatically underplays his role in and influence upon the Bush administration and its policies.

Cheney is a sage and experienced strategic thinker. His level of intellect is rare in American public leadership these days. He is a family man with liberal views that will surprise many of his critics. He believes in individual freedoms at any price; perhaps in some cases at too high a price for many of us.

Finally, remember please that we fail to learn and broaden our own perspective if we only read or spend time with those with whom we are always in agreement. To Cheney’s dogmatic critics and to liberals in general I say – Read this book. While many of us will not agree with the points of view expressed, the way the man stays true to his principles is admirable and sadly too rare in our time.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 14, 2011 Maria rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Contrary to Mr. Cheney's claim, this book did not "make heads explode." If anything, it was simply an account of his time as a politician and his viewpoints on controversial topics. For the most part, none of the information revealed was new. It's exactly as I remember things happening, how the various crises played out and rationales of decisions made. The media over-exaggerated its controversy, especially as it relates to Mr. Cheney's relationship with President Bush.
This book was a general di...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Fred rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm no Cheney fan. His politics and rhetoric are pretty horrid. But his bull headed, no apologies, no regrets persona fascinated me -- I had to check out his autobiography. How does this develop? What is his self-image? How deep do the delusions run?

It's satisfying as an account of an insider who's been in 4 or 5 administrations. He provides quite a bit of insight into the behind-the-scenes view of our political machinery. It's funny as a memoir because it is so self-congratulatory. There are m...more

like · see review

Feb 17, 2012 Eamon Doody rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As a political anorak it was inevitable that I would eventually read this book - but what has surprises me is that I rather enjoyed it. My liberal leanings prevent me from awarding 5 stars to this book. However while my politicl views would differ strongly from Cheneys his insights into the events of his political life and his own role at the heart of American politics for 40 years was quite insightful.

I have 2 criticisms.

I am impressed by the strength of his conservatism on economic matters. B...more

like · see review

Feb 01, 2012 William rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Did I like this book? Big Time! Too many great and insightful moments to cite here, but Cheney does a great job giving us a behind the scenes look at some of the most important and momentous events in American History. Of course, the MSM reviews tried to spin this as a vindictive assault on everyone by America's Dark Lord. I thought Cheney was very objective in his descriptions of the events and persons that he worked with during nearly 40 years in govt service. An honest man, giving an honest r...more

like 5 likes · see review

Dec 29, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is meaty. No large text or nonsense filler. If Cheney wrote this book, he really sat
down and worked. It progresses nicely; occasionally jumping around, but generally in chronological order.

What I liked about the book:
- his beginnings in academia, going toward a PHD, and hesitation about going into politics
- when Ford was not re-elected, he went back to his home state of Wyoming and ran for house there, instead of moving to a more influential state
- he was honest about his early screw-...more

like 1 like · see review

Dec 21, 2011 Mary Ronan Drew rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book

Dick Cheney's career in politics began when Donald Rumsfeld gave him a job despite Cheney's having flunked out of Yale which helps explain the reluctance of the Bush administration to ease out Rumsfeld when his performance as secretary of defense had become a political liability. But you have to go looking for that kind of enlightenment in this memoir of Cheney's years as vice president. He tells us a lot about his family and is clearly devoted to his daughters and their children. He is a wester...more

like · see review

Nov 21, 2011 Omarquina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

regardless of the views someone may have about dick Cheney and the bush administration, "in my time" offers a panoramic view into some of the most important and interesting events in modern history. whether they are recent like the Bush era or go back all the way to Watergate and the ford administration.
There a few living Americans that can boast of the experience and insight that Cheney has obtained over the last couple of decades as a Washington insider.
Given Cheney's personality is not surpri...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 15, 2011 Frank Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, afghanistan, memoirs, national-security, middle-east, leadership-management, foreign-policy, central-asia

Unlike many sanitized political memoirs, it is quite clear this is pretty much the real Dick Cheney talking here (with the assistance of his daughter, Liz). A smart, ambitious boy from the upper Midwest comes to Washington and, as so many other whiz kids have found, hard work and being at the right place at the right time can propel you into the political stratosphere. In Cheney's case, it was catching the eye of Congressman Donald Rumsfeld.

And here was the most remarkable revelation of the book...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 05, 2011 Kevin Scott rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'll first say that I only read as far as Cheney's selection as Bush's vice presidential nominee. I was looking for, and expecting, a robust defense of Cheney's role in the development of executive power over the past three decades, and this memoir turns out not to be the place to find it. Cheney played a role in the congressional investigation of Iran-Contra, and the minority report on that investigation is an important document in the development of executive power. It gets some attention here...more

like · see review

Mar 07, 2012 Paul Heidebrecht rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I deliberately try to read the memoirs or biographies of politicians I don't like just to see if my impressions are inaccurate. To some degree, my negative image of Cheney is off-base. He seems to be a fine man of great personal integrity. In fact, he's a fairly ordinary guy who got opportunities to serve in the federal government and though hard work and perseverance found himself as the vice president. He's not a particularly self-reflective person. He did seem to remember every criticism and...more

like 2 likes · see review

Aug 30, 2012 LemonLinda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My impression is that this is an honest and forthright assessment of his many years of public service both in Congress and as a part of multiple administrations. You may or may not always agree with his policies and stances on a wide range of domestic and foreign issues, but with this book, I believe, you will come to see that he is a man who follows his convictions and supports policies that he firmly believes rather than testing and aligning with the current political climate and I must say I...more

like · see review

Jan 02, 2012 Land Murphy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cheney's personal and political memoir answers many questions about his role during the administration of George W. Bush. His defense of the Bush administration interrogation policies and the decision to pursue regime change in Iraq are cogent and persuasive. Also of interest are Cheney's experiences through several administrations reaching back to Nixon and Ford, including his relationships with Rumsfeld, Powell, and others who would play roles in the Bush administration. Cheney's damning descr...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 18, 2011 Dennis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dick Cheney is a Westerner. Eastern people and West coast cultures won't understand him or the book. To me it was like reading a memoir from one of my uncles. Mr. Cheney's deep conservatism makes him mainstream in Western culture and his decision making processes seem so down home, clear, and concise.

Some of the other people in the administration were really well defined by him in the course of events that he describes. I still personally like Colin Powell but I now realize that he was a better...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 10, 2011 Steve Schlutow rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-non-fiction, biography, favorites, goverment

I really enjoyed this book.. All the various stories that he narrates through the book I could reflect where I was and what I was feeling when it was happening.. Also, whether I agreed or disagreed with the decisions made that he and the various administrations he served.. I loved the book--a great read for any American who enjoys history and current-affair reading..

like 2 likes · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Richard Wagaman rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book even though it was watching the polishing of an apple. Dick Cheney grow up at the same time, and in same local, as I did. Much of what hapened in his youth, I experienced in mine though not to extremes that he did. As he became more and more embroiled in Washington, DC politics, the book became more of a fairy tale because I was there at the same time. By the end, the book it was like a granddad speaking to his grandchildren to include George W. Bush. I was a strong Republica...more

like · see review

Nov 18, 2011 Fred Forbes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Surprised that I would give this 4 stars since Cheney and I would rarely agree on policy issues - "The US is still enjoying the tax cuts we passed back in 2001 and 2003." Oh, really? Maybe if you are one of the millionaires who benefited from them but the rest of us only see deficits into forever. Combined with the needless Iraq war and the excursions into Afghanistan, we are going to be paying for his and Bush's judgments for a long time to come. And, as expected, he spends a good portion of hi...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 15, 2011 Don Stanton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this book. I normally do not read books concerning the era in which I live. This attracted my attention because so little has been written from the 'other-side' of the aisle.
The candid comments, the framing of each decision point was well done. The detailing of circumstances that developed inside the Bush administration made it a fascinating read. To be noted, never once did I see any blaming or finger pointing to counter the heaps of negativeness of the press about him o...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 17, 2011 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the outset, let me admit two things; I am not an American, and I have long been anti-Bush and his administration. That said, I was quite pleased with Cheney's memoir and felt that I learned a great deal about the man, the Administration, and some of the inner workings, about which I knew little.

Cheney uses the memoir to paint a picture of his life pre-VP and into his 8 years as 'second in command'. He draws on some excellent stories and has a wonderful way with words. I knew so little of th...more From the outset, let me admit two things; I am not an American, and I have long been anti-Bush and his administration. That said, I was quite pleased with Cheney's memoir and felt that I learned a great deal about the man, the Administration, and some of the inner workings, about which I knew little.

Cheney uses the memoir to paint a picture of his life pre-VP and into his 8 years as 'second in command'. He draws on some excellent stories and has a wonderful way with words. I knew so little of the man, other than he was one bacon sandwich away from death and liked to shoot his friends. After finishing the book, I was truly amazed at all this man had done and the depth of his workings inside 1600 Pensylvania Ave, as well as with 4 Administrations (Nixon, Ford, Buish 41, and of course Bush 43), and time in Congress. Having not been born when he became Chief of Staff under Ford and his various workings for and with Don Rumsfeld in the early days, I was quite intrigued at the stories he could tell. He laid out some interesting tales as Chief under Ford in the 840ish days in office and some great ones as Bush 41's Sec. of Defense, who led them into Desert Storm.

One of the real eye opening things for me was his activity within Bush 43's Administration. He was no 'sit around as President of the Senate and learn to crochet' VP. He got things done and pushed for a real agenda. While I find his prop up of the Administration's post-September 11, 2001 action really in poor taste, I must admit the man has an agenda to which he sticks. Even if it is illegal and promises covert and anti-Constitutional actions, the man makes his case and props up the boss as best as he can.

I will admit a few flaws that I found in the book. One of which being its continual lack of chronologial nature. While I understand, specifically with political memoirs, it is never an A to B to C thing, which leads to the next chapter all that well, the jumping from 2001 to '06, to '08, and back to '02 really got to me. Tell the story in its chronological order, or your life in such a manner. It is as though telling his tale led to anecdotes much further along in life, before remembering that we are back in 1986 in the storyline. Also, let me also chastise for a real lack of meat in a few major parts. There is a real lack of story for the presidential campaigns (maybe 5-6 pages for 1976, 2000, and 2004), let alone the congressional campaigns that he undertook. I was also really deflated by the lack of explanation of the really exciting things that he did. We get pages and pages on Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, but a paragraph about Ford's loss to Carter... these were interesting times.

No political memoir would be the same without some jabs at opponents. Cheney get after Reagan in '76 at the Convention, and Carter in the election (and 4 awful years to 1980, his belief), then jumps at Clinton in '92 that saw the end of Bush 41's power, and again at Clinton/Gore in 2000. Nothing like also criticizing the man who took over, Obama, in the latter stages, and the real shocker, tossing McCain under the bus and leaving the reader to wonder if Sen. McCain was a wet behind the ears fool who would not know domestic policy if it bit him in the ass. Add to that a little attack her and there on Colin Powell's disagreement with the Administration being in a useless war in Iraq (oh sorry, liberation Bush felt was needed).

All in all, Cheney changed my mind about the man behind the VP desk. While I will never agree with him entirely, he did tackle some of the key issues, including his own health, while showing that he did care about the US and its people (at least those who followed his boss' belief system). I did feel that this one was much more... filling than Dubya's attempts to show himself off as a great man.

Kudos for another great political memoir and here's high hopes that other politicians follow in his footsteps.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Sep 18, 2011 Randee rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wondered if there would be a clue in here regarding the strength with which Cheney has always publicly supported his gay daughter, Mary, even when running for VP. One has to admire that. The book is the same. Incredibly supportive and proud of his children with frequent references to Mary and her partner and later her children (in addition to PhD wife Lynne and daughter Liz). Whatever other huge criticisms may be out there, the love and loyalty among these family members is enviable. The whole f...more

like · see review

Apr 15, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arts-and-historical

In this eagerly anticipated memoir, former Vice President Dick Cheney delivers an unyielding portrait of American politics over nearly forty years and shares personal reflections on his role as one of the most steadfast and influential statesmen in the history of our country.The public perception of Dick Cheney has long been something of a contradiction. He has been viewed as one of the most powerful vice presidents—secretive, even mysterious, and at the same time opinionated and unflinchingly o...more In this eagerly anticipated memoir, former Vice President Dick Cheney delivers an unyielding portrait of American politics over nearly forty years and shares personal reflections on his role as one of the most steadfast and influential statesmen in the history of our country.The public perception of Dick Cheney has long been something of a contradiction. He has been viewed as one of the most powerful vice presidents—secretive, even mysterious, and at the same time opinionated and unflinchingly outspoken. He has been both praised and attacked by his peers, the press, and the public. Through it all, courting only the ideals that define him, he has remained true to himself, his principles, his family, and his country. Now in an enlightening and provocative memoir, a stately page-turner with flashes of surprising humor and remarkable candor, Dick Cheney takes readers through his experiences as family man, policymaker, businessman, and politician during years that shaped our collective history.

Born into a family of New Deal Democrats in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney was the son of a father at war and a high-spirited and resilient mother. He came of age in Casper, Wyoming, playing baseball and football and, as senior class president, courting homecoming queen Lynne Vincent, whom he later married. This all-American story took an abrupt turn when he flunked out of Yale University, signed on to build power line in the West, and started living as hard as he worked. Cheney tells the story of how he got himself back on track and began an extraordinary ascent to the heights of American public life, where he would remain for nearly four decades:

* He was the youngest White House Chief of Staff, working for President Gerald Ford—the first of
four chief executives he would come to know well.

* He became Congressman from Wyoming and was soon a member of the congressional leadership working closely with President Ronald Reagan.

* He became secretary of defense in the George H. W. Bush administration, overseeing America’s military during Operation Desert Storm and in the historic transition at the end of the Cold War.

* He was CEO of Halliburton, a Fortune 500 company with projects and personnel around the globe.

* He became the first vice president of the United States to serve out his term of office in the twenty-first century. Working with George W. Bush from the beginning of the global war on terror, he was—and remains—an outspoken defender of taking every step necessary to defend the nation.

Eyewitness to history at the highest levels, Cheney brings to life scenes from past and present. He describes driving through the White House gates on August 9, 1974, just hours after Richard Nixon resigned, to begin work on the Ford transition; and he portrays a time of national crisis a quarter century later when, on September 11, 2001, he was in the White House bunker and conveyed orders to shoot down a hijacked airliner if it would not divert.

With its unique perspective on a remarkable span of American history, In My Time will enlighten. As an intimate and personal chronicle, it will surprise, move, and inspire. Dick Cheney’s is an enduring political vision to be reckoned with and admired for its honesty, its wisdom, and its resonance. In My Time is truly the last word about an incredible political era, by a man who lived it and helped define it—with courage and without compromise.(less)

like · see review

Sep 21, 2011 Nick Perdiew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There are some good reveals in this book. Dick's from an old school. The part I like best is thinking of him bivouacked in the Wyoming countryside reading Churchill's The Second World War at night by lantern while by day working to install power lines after dropping out of (being kicked out of) Yale. Dick Cheney is a lot of things and this book shows a bunch of them. Almost all of my friends think it is fashionable to bash Cheney. And who could blame them in a way, he's an easy target, if a lazy...more

like 1 like · see review

Nov 18, 2011 Janice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. I distinctly remember George Bush Sr time in office (I was in high school) and it was the beginning of my interest in politics. It was fascinating to read from his own words things that took place during that time. Dick Cheney has been around for a lot of serious changes in America and he was willing to answer the call to serve many times, from his years under Ford, to being the Secretary of Defense under Bush Sr to the Vice Presidency. He knows and understands Washin...more

like 1 like · see review

May 21, 2012 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: from-the-library, history, non-fiction

There has not been a Vice President who contributed more to the success of his administration than Dick Cheney. Even before the election in 2000, he was instrumental in finding the most qualified VP available, himself, something few administrations have done, and none to greater effect. Although constitutionally, the VP doesn't wield much power, Cheney's experience in foreign policy, defense policy, and every other aspect of running the executive branch were continuously tapped by George W. Bush...more

like 1 like · see review

Aug 16, 2012 Peg rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dick Cheney has been one of the more controversial Vice Preaidents in history. His memoirs are forthright, yet personable and recount his life from early on until 2011. Although the events he recounts during the Bush administration are certainly known, it is very interesting to see tha interworkings of the main cast of individuals involved. Cheney served in the federal government for many years and in a wide range of capacities. He is tough, grounded in reality, and not a "yes" man. Of the many...more

like · see review

May 09, 2013 Andre Preoteasa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very clear and enjoyable memoir about a man that the media has turned into a cartoon. Did you know that Cheney's wife was the #1 baton twirler in her home state of Wyoming in the 1950s? Or that one of the first things Cheney did after his second term as VP was to drive across the county? While I am still someone that disagrees with many of Cheney's views, it is enlightening to form your own opinion about one of the most influential people in the 2nd half of the 20th century.

The book is an easy...more

like · see review

Sep 20, 2011 Tim rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: afghanistan, biographies-memoirs, bush-administration

What little revelations are to be found in this book have been widely reported in the press, and have been discussed during many of the Vice President's concurrent interviews. If you are familiar with Steven Hayes' biography of Cheney, you already know the story. And if you are familiar with Barton Gellman's "Angler" you already know the dirty details. What is left is only a hum-drum memoir, filled with bromides, discussing Cheney's several decades of public life. An unexpected recurring theme i...more

like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 Steven rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The dark lord removes his helm to sing his Anakin swan song. Raised in Nebraska and Wyoming, Cheney was admitted to Yale as a political science major, but failed out after two years. He spent the next two years as a line man installing electric lines throughout the west. He incurred two DUIs during this period and realized, after his betrothed graduated from college, he needed to get his act together. He subsequently attended the University of Wyoming where he earned his B.A. in political scienc...more The dark lord removes his helm to sing his Anakin swan song. Raised in Nebraska and Wyoming, Cheney was admitted to Yale as a political science major, but failed out after two years. He spent the next two years as a line man installing electric lines throughout the west. He incurred two DUIs during this period and realized, after his betrothed graduated from college, he needed to get his act together. He subsequently attended the University of Wyoming where he earned his B.A. in political science. He married Lynne Cheney and both went on to doctoral studies. However, Cheney was lured away from academics to politics when offered a Congressional fellowship and, eventually, a position from Don Rumsfeld, President Nixon's then Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. Cheney moved with Rumsfeld when the former was tasked with heading up the notably non-free enterprise Cost of Living Council. When Rumsfeld left for Belgium as the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Cheney left government for 18 months in private enterprise. When Nixon resigned, President Ford asked Rumsfeld to handle his administration's transition. Rumsfeld, in turn, requested Cheney's help. Thereafter, Rumsfeld became Ford's Chief of Staff and Cheney the deputy. When Rumsfeld was named Secretary of Defense, Cheney took over as Ford's Chief of Staff. After Ford's presidential election defeat, Cheney successfully ran for Wyoming's sole House seat. He served in Congress for ten years until tasked with becoming George H.W. Bush's Secretary of Defense. After Bush's presidential electoral defeat, Cheney became the CEO of Halliburton.
Cheney divested himself of all financial interest in Halliburton before being named 43's VP. Cheney is largely unapologetic for the war in Iraq and the enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs)used by the CIA and Pentagon, the two most controversial aspects of W's administration. Cheney notes that the most prominent democrats in the know, including Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle, and George Tenet, all believed Iraq had WMDs; those aforementioned individuals who held elective office also voted for the war in Iraq. As to EITs, he quotes from former POWs who underwent torture dismissing water-boarding, the most extreme EIT, as torture. However, he actually writes that after 9/11, it was time the administration worked "'the dark side.'" Cheney's book is well written and informative, though not as in depth or thorough as it could have been. It succeeds in personalizing the often demonic figure portrayed in the press and elucidates his decades of service to the nation.(less)

like · see review

Sep 26, 2011 Clara Roberts rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dick Cheney said it best "The path I had traveled was partly due to the circustances of my birth. Not that I had been born into a powerful or privilieged family; I wasn't. But I was born an American, a blessing surely among life's greatest. . .. I was privileged to have chance and second chances of the kind that may be posssible only in our great nation." I would say Cheney made good use of his chances and second chances. Cheney comes across a a man with strong feelings and ideas. He gives no ap...more

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 16, 2011 Scott rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not a dense read by any stretch (lots of breadth, not too much depth), but an enjoyable read. Two things stuck out to me: (1) My lifetime now spans enough "history" to be covered by the entirety of Dick Cheney's political career. I enjoyed reading his perspective of the events of my lifetime, many of which I vividly remember. (2) With the constant focus on the Middle East and Central Asia, I was reminded why so many foreign policy "wonks" and, frankly, military leaders, are constantly identifyin...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 68 69 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (8)

More editions...

Videos About This Book

-2 comments

Add a comment

Genres

Biography

38 users

Politics

21 users

History

19 users

Non Fiction

19 users

Autobiography > Memoir

8 users

Biography > Autobiography

7 users

Biography Memoir

3 users

Literature > American

3 users

History > American History

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Dick Cheney

Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States (2001-2009), under George W. Bush.

Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, but was primarily raised in Sumner, Nebraska and Casper, Wyoming. He began his political career as an intern for Congressman William A. Steiger, eventually working his way into the White House during the Nixon and Ford administrations, where he...more

More about Dick Cheney...

Books by Dick Cheney

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About In My Time: A Per...

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

title link	preview: In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir
avg rating	preview: In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir Goodreads rating: 3.67 (1039 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11800681-in-my-time?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344397019l/11800681.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11800681-in-my-time?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir by Dick Cheney[/url]

In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website