10 Questions for Lynne Cheney

By Matthew Cooper

Don't call her the Second Lady. The Vice President's wife keeps a high profile of her own, as an author of books on U.S. history. Her latest, A Time for Freedom, is a timeline of American history. She sat down with TIME White House correspondent Matthew Cooper at the vice-presidential mansion to discuss her newest work, her husband's health and why she likes Geena Davis.

WHY A TIMELINE FOR THE NEW BOOK? I've really been concerned that people don't know what happened when. I've talked a lot about the importance of making history interesting. It occurred to me that you could do that and have a timeline to get the dates in place, but pull people in with stories about the great heroes of America and some of the great villains of America.

IS IT IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO LEARN DATES? SINCE YOU AND I WENT TO SCHOOL THERE'S LESS OF THAT. Well, they sure should have a framework to tie the story on to. There are some dates we all ought to know, and I suppose they would start with 1492. When the British came to Jamestown is important, when the Pilgrims came is important, when the Puritans came is important, when the Constitution was written. There are lots of important dates that kids should know--and that we all should know--because it's really the framework on which to tie the American story.

A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW, IF WE LOOK BACK, WHAT WILL WE SAY ABOUT FREEDOMS THAT WERE NOT YET GRANTED IN THIS ERA? You know, we haven't done enough yet to bring African Americans and women fully into power--though women certainly have come very close. When you think of things like the achievement gap in education that separates African-American youngsters from white youngsters, you know we haven't done enough yet. When you look at the difference in life-spans, you know we haven't done enough yet. When you look at income differentials, you know that we need to do more on education, so that we can have a society in which we can say that all people are created equal and really mean it.

HOW'S THE VICE PRESIDENT DOING IN TERMS OF HIS HEALTH? He's doing fine. Many times, I think how lucky all of us are to live in an age when medical technology has just advanced so quickly that conditions that once would have been very debilitating can be managed.

YOU'VE HAD TO BE THE ENFORCER ABOUT HIS DIET? Sure--like, I suppose, every spouse in America. But he generally does a pretty good job.

BOB WOODWARD SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WOULD BE THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE IN 2008. That's pretty interesting. Wrong, but interesting.

... EVEN IF THE PRESIDENT ASKED? No. You know [the Vice President] said this. I'm not making these decisions.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU'RE SURPRISED AT HOW PEOPLE HAVE SINGLED OUT HALLIBURTON. I think that public life has become a little more confrontational than it used to be, but I'm not entirely surprised. I do think it's gotten a little worse though. I've many times thought of the outings we used to take with other members of the House when Dick was in Congress--Democrats. We would go somewhere--maybe it was to some sort of conference--and play tennis, and I don't think that happens so much anymore, this sort of friends across the aisle.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU'VE SEEN COMMANDER IN CHIEF WITH GEENA DAVIS. Yeah, I watched it last night. Oh, if you worked inside [the White House], you always watch them and think, "Well, it's not like that." Part of the enjoyment comes from that, and on the whole it's a very well done show. She's got a very commanding air about her.

AND I SEE THE VILLAIN IS THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. DONALD SUTHERLAND, HE'S THE HEAVY. He's such a bad guy, I hadn't even noticed he was a Republican.

HAVE WE SEEN THE LAST CHENEY RUNNING FOR OFFICE? YOUR DAUGHTERS ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY PUBLIC MINDED. I think they would all be great--and I'm including my granddaughters and my grandson. It's hard to know where his inclination is. He's 16 months old.