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Dick Cheney is by far the most significant vice president in modern American history. In fact, in the entire sweep of our history, other than the VP's who went on to become president, I can't think of another VP whose impact was as significant as Dick Cheney.

If he had done nothing else in his entire life except to command the WH crisis center so magnificently on 9/11/01, Dick Cheney would be a giant among our VP's. But he has done much more. So I think it would be a genuine loss to our historical record if he didn't write a memoir or autobiography.

He doesn't need personal notes or a diary, because so much of what our presidents and vice presidents do is recorded both for legal reasons and for posterity. I also suspect the most significant events are burned into his mind. So I hope he does write a book after he leaves office.

I agree he does not need a diary etc to write such a book as there is much already out there that he could use for historical backup to his own memories.

I think maybe though by what he has said, I cannot remember when or where is was and to who, but it was to the question of whether there would be a book, it was an indication that he did not want to write one or even commission one to be written about him.

I think it was really an excuse the thing about never keeping a diary though he may also have been giving a signal to the people that he has worked with and for that they should have not fear of him doing a dirt digging exposay of their lives both public or private in the near or far future.

As Mary Cheney is now writing a book about last year's campaign maybe he will allow her to write one about him and his life at least then it would be someone he could trust implicitly to write only what he wanted and though his wife is an author he may feel it would not be correct for her to do it but a daughter maybe that is different.

Only time will tell though but like you I hope so because there is so little written about him all I have been able to find it a book aimed at young people nothing really for adults apart from lies and vitriol.

You've made a very compelling case for Dick Cheney writing his memoirs, Wolfstar. As you say, if for nothing else than the events of 9/11 from his viewpoint, it would be worth it. But he has many other compelling stories and perspectives that would be of interest in American history, I've no doubt of that.

I think Rumsfeld's autobiography would be pretty interesting, too. Hope he writes one.