Cheney kept a resignation letter locked away in a safe in case he were ever to be incapacitated. Cheney kept secret resignation letter

Dick Cheney kept a secret resignation letter locked away in a safe in case he were ever to be incapacitated, the former vice president reveals in his new book.

The letter, which Cheney signed in March of 2001, was written because of his health.


“The possibility that I might have a heart attack or a stroke that would be incapacitating… there is no mechanism for getting rid of a vice president who can’t function,” he told NBC in an interview that will air Monday as the book is published.

The letter was locked in a safe at all times — the location was not disclosed in the interview — and known only to a handful of people, including President George W. Bush.

Cheney did the interview as part of the promotion for his upcoming memoir, “In My Time,” which hits the shelvesAug. 30.

“This book is gonna make a lot of people angry,” said NBC interviewer Jamie Gangel.

Cheney responded, “There are gonna be heads exploding all over Washington, Jamie.”

The 46th vice president, Cheney was known for being a strong advocate of “enhanced interrogation techniques,” — something he continues to defend. In fact, in the interview he suggests that the United States should continue waterboarding certain terror suspects.

“I would strongly support using it again if we had a high-value detainee and that was the only way we could get him to talk,” Cheney said.

The interview also sheds light on private conversations between Cheney and Bush. Cheney discussed differences he and the president had over a decision to strike a target believed to be housing Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, but the specifics aren’t disclosed in the interview.

Cheney asserts that he doesn’t think he is betraying Bush’s trust by recounting the conversations and decision-making in his book.

“Do you think these revelations will embarrass President Bush?” asked Gangel. “I don’t know why,” replied Cheney.

“I didn’t set out to embarrass the president or not embarrass the president. If you look at the book there are many places in it where I say some very fine things about George Bush. And believe every word of it,” Cheney said.

The interview will air on NBC’s “Dateline” on Monday, Aug. 29, at 10pm ET and on “Today” Tuesday, Aug. 30.