A Time for Reflection: An Autobiography

by William E. Simon, George P. Shultz, Gerald R. Ford

William E Simon-quintessential American figure of the American century: Wall Street wunderkind, treasury secretary under Presidents Nixon and Ford, successful entrepreneur, US Olympic Committee president, best-selling author, pioneering philanthropist, and devout Catholic. Simon's insightful and often humorous autobiography, A Time for Reflection, includes a diverse cast of characters whose lives intersected with Simon's: from the president and his advisers at the White House; to the highest realms of the Catholic Church (in particular, Cardinal Egan), to celebrities, like actress Meryl Streep; and sports figures, like basketball coach Bobby Knight. In A Time for Reflection, Simon offers us some behind-the-scenes glimpses of history being made, including: President Nixon as Simon knew him, both in office and after; How Simon confronted Ronald Reagan during the Republican convention in 1980 to help nix the idea of a co-presidency with Gerald Ford; The tumult of the 1980 Moscow Olympic games, boycotted by the United States, and the 1984 Los Angeles games, boycotted by the Soviet Union; How Simon battled the Arab 'oil crisis' as 'energy czar' for President Nixon; Simon's fight in the Ford administration against Vice President Nelson Rockefeller on how to help a bankrupt New York City; Making the case for freedom with his best-selling books A Time for Truth and A Time for Action. Simon's fascinating life also encompassed sailing adventures -- including conquering the Northwest Passage from Alaska to Greenland and being named king by a group of Fiji islanders -- as well as adventures of the soul: giving away millions to charity; becoming a eucharistic minister; and helping to care for the sick, the poor, and the dying. William E Simon passed away on June 2000, but his autobiography, written in conjunction with and completed by John M Caher, is now published for the first time, a testimony to one of the truly impressive Americans of the twentieth century.

Genres: Business, History, Biography

352 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Businessman, U.S Secretary of Treasury from May 9, 1974 till January 20, 1977. The William E. Simon Foundation carries on this legacy. In 1977, Simon received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the Treasury Department's highest honor.

Reviews

[Drtaxsacto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Simon was a man of many talents. He started his career as a very successful bond trader but then evolved into a series of high profile political jobs including the Energy Czar ( succeeding the somnablent John Love), he became Secretary of the Treasury and at the end of the Ford Administration then moved into a series of positions including leading the US Olympic Committee, leading the Olin Foundation and a host of other things including navigating the Northwest Passage West to East.

Simon was also a conscientious thinker about both political philosophy and religious thinking. He was a devout Catholic. His political writing was clear and affirming of conservative values.

This is a first rate memoir which includes some great understanding of just who Simon was. I really enjoyed the book.

[John Caher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am obviously not the most objective reader, since I wrote it. However, I do think this is an important story of a man who lived an extraordinary life -- Wall Street wunderkind, member of the Nixon and Ford cabinets, head of the 1984 Olympic games, thoughtful philanthropist. What struck me most in working with Simon was not his intellect -- he's plenty smart, but would be the first to admit he is nowhere near a genius -- but that he seemed to totally lack a fear of failure. On those (rare) occasions when he did fail, he just shrugged it off, did not let him define him and moved on. So many of us, present company included, are hindered by that fear of failure.

Additionally, I was intrigued by his philosophy on philanthropy. He sincerely believed that the strong had a moral responsibility to help the weak and unfortunate. But he believed equally strongly that aid should provide a worthy person with a ladder so that he or she can begin their own climb to success. Simon once told me that giving away money -- and he gave away many, many millions -- was the most difficult endeavor of his life. He believed that philanthropists had a duty to ensure that their charity was used for purposes of which they approved.

All in all, a fascinating guy.