Now It's My Turn: A Daughter's Chronicle of Political Life

by Mary Cheney

The daughter and personal aide of Dick Cheney shares her account of the 2004 election, discussing her relationship with her family, her role in assisting her father's campaign, and the ways in which her sexuality was rendered a political issue.

Genres: Politics, Memoir, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2006

Reviews

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Cheney, who was a campaign assistant to her father, Dick, during the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns, recalls the races, where her sexual orientation was used for political purposes by Democrats and the media. Perhaps a third of the memoir deals with stories concerning her sexual orientation. Otherwise, she tells a couple of funny stories about the campaigns and the life her family has led in politics.

[Rena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this a LONG time ago, but I remember it being an decent read though I didn't agree with her political views.

[Randy Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. It really lets you in on the presidential campaign. I did not know too much about Mary, but learned about her and the entire family!!!

Great job and very informative!

[Auntie Greed · Rating 1 out of 5]

Three stories in the book were really enjoyable and worthwhile: the adversarial reporter who sent her father a note in the hospital following his first heart attack, her father's wisdom in embracing her and never changing his stance for any public or in differing with Bush 43's advocacy for an amendment, and the entirety of the Edwards debate character. I do use the phrase "character" sensing that Edwards switched between characters depending upon the situations and the audiences (probably learned and re-enforced through his years in courtrooms). Cheney's insight on the actions of Edwards and of Kerry help us to better understand they were not ready for the weighty occupancy of the White House when they ran in 2004.
Cheney as an author did seem to be holding back throughout the book, and ended up as a very undeserving historian. There are meaty and interesting questions looming over the two elections she chronicled, but she avoided almost all of them in her book. She seemed stand-offish to me.
What was most disappointing was that she ended up seeming like a pre-teen with mostly petty concerns. "So this is how the Gore's traveled during the campaign?" The book is riddled with these types of petty observations that accumulate to bring down the experience of the whole book. Then looking at the title once again, even it seems to be petty and juvenile in its theme.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read though I was a little disappointed that it centered more on her political involvement than her personal history. Gave a good look at how presidents and vice presidents are elected, and the political world of running for office.