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

Patriots of Every Stripe

It's a good thing we can embrace patriots of every stripe in this country. Mr. Cheney story reveals a man of considerable talent and long service to his country. That he is sure he is a patriot I have no doubt. But he is a patriot of a stripe I am sure we need fewer of not more.

HIs story, a rebuttal to the critics

I listened to this book because at the end of the 2nd term of Bush/Cheney administration, I became disenchanted as to how they seemed to fall apart (yes, I voted for them). However, I always feel it's best to make sure you hear all sides of the story. I thought then, and still do, that Cheney took some heat from the liberal media for which he could not directly respond due to his being in office.

I'm still not sure I agree with all his diplomatic views, but I appreciated listening to his views and his openness and frankness with his interactions with Rice, Powell, and Bush.

If you truly dislike someone for their views, you should at least hear them out. For those on the fence with how they feel about Cheney, you need to listen to this book. He gives also gives some good background on Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Clinton, and their staff. HIs review of history (i.e., Vietnam war) outlines how this affected the decision making process for the interventions in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

It's a good think that Edward Herrmann narrated this book. The epilogue and prologue are spoken by Cheney but you can tell his speech is labored, perhaps from his health. I think Herrmann could narrate instructions on how to fill out tax forms and still make it sound interesting.

Person in charge

This is a book about a person that was and is in charge of his progress through the life. Absolutely loved it

Very interesting and engrossing

Could not stop listening. Very interesting and refreshing to hear decades of history and "behind the scenes" happenings written and narrated by D. Cheney. Can only recommend the book.

How government works.

An excellent incite into how government works. One day you are a hero, the next day you are the devil.

Very well done

I know many might not like him. However I am the type of person that is at least willing to listen to someone to see their point of view.
The book does a very good job of telling his life story and his experiences in the political arena.

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.