In My Time

A Personal and Political Memoir

By: Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann, Dick Cheney

Length: 20 hrs

Publisher's summary

In this eagerly anticipated memoir, former Vice President Dick Cheney delivers an unyielding portrait of American politics over nearly 40 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 with flashes of surprising humor and remarkable candor, Dick Cheney takes listeners 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 lines 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 the 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.

©2011 Richard B. Cheney (P)2011 Simon & Schuster Audio

Worth a lot to read.

A perfect Republican , a patriot and a great
Politician to teach America's contemporary
History. A must read for a new generation.

Great Book!

Every concerned American should read it. My view of Cheney as a dedicated servant of America was strenghtened.

Good read

Enjoyed this book very much. Very interesting story and kept my interest to the end.

2 Things to Recommend This Book

1. Some people have called Dick Cheney an evil genius. I'm pretty sure if you read this book, one of those terms will be confirmed depending on your political leanings.

2. I would listen to any book the late Edward Herrmann narrated. Unfortunately, I will eventually run out of them.

Absolutely a must read book

Previous I made up my mind Richard was part of the Americans recent decline and division. This concept remains debatable however he illustrates is love affair for many things great about America and his true beliefs that freedom was paramount and evil should be defeated if it planned to harm us. I still question this as he fails to point out that each war, financial crisis or virus pandemic by design or accident increases the wealth gap removes freedoms from mainly the poor and middle class in a new world where the USA doesn’t really need world support or our military.

Interesting

A unique look at an exceptionally private person.
A little boring at some points, but for the most part a deep and vivid look into the workings of government.

Recommended

Much Needed Balance to Unfounded Portrayal

Just finished the book - I really enjoyed reading it. His book provides a wealth of background information and stories from his political and personal life spanning from the Nixon/Ford years up through his time as Vice President. He has a no-nonsense, tell it like it is attitude on issues that were vital to protecting our country. He stood on principle and didn't sell out our country to the misguided notion of peace through weakness. Some of these negative reviewers are rather silly in their comments - you can tell that many of them didn't read the book. They play along with the mainstream media's vilification and nauseating repetition of the same unfounded claims without providing much proof for their claims. Cheney was someone who's dedication and service to this country was an exemplar compared to other politicians who held his position. Maybe you can fault him for his steadfast desire to protect this country at a time when we faced unprecedented risks. How soon many of us forget the climate in this country after 9/11. The book brings out interesting background information on the dealings with other countries in the Middle East and with the Soviet Union. Whether you like the guy or not, he presents a well reasoned presentation of the Bush policies and the background for our country's actions after 9/11 and through two wars. By providing this context, you come away from reading the book feeling that Cheney's work will be looked upon by historians as representing a critical perspective to the events over the last decade. Highly recommend reading the book!

Self Serving, but what did I expect????

I respect the office of Vice President; therefore my minimum rating is three stars.

It is just to dam long. If you must, get the abridged. I feel it was three downloads of ‘I Feel Pretty.' Perhaps is should be changed to ‘I Feel Petty.’

very informative of struggles leaders deal with

It's good to hear VP Cheney's view as opposed to media. This book makes sense of the bush administration and their hard work for our country. I just listened to this audio book a second time recently and I picked up more that makes sense of things today. I recommend Decision points as another good read .

Interesting insight into a much hated/loved man

If you could sum up In My Time in three words, what would they be?

Dedicated public servant

What did you like best about this story?

The behind the scene stories and how and why he did what he did.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Unabridged.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended.