Examples

Dick Cheney has signed a million-dollar contract to write his memoirs. The blogs are having fun.

Bill Clinton wrote his memoirs. Hillary Clinton wrote her memoirs. Although George H.W. Bush has not written formal memoirs, he has written books about policy and his role in making it. Ronald Reagan wrote his memoirs. Jimmy Carter has written several books, some with a subject best described as himself. Richard Nixon wrote several memoirs, and rates as the finest presidential memoirist of the lot.

Just about every Cabinet secretary and campaign factotum of the past several cycles has written memoirs, recollections, self-justifications, and screeds.

Of the numerous autobiographies and musings by senators, representatives, governors, and lesser elected officials, the late Eugene McCarthy's stand out as the finest.

George C. Marshall ranked as the greatest general of World War II, and perhaps as America's greatest commander ever. He also served as secretary of defense and secretary of state. The Marshall Plan bears a noble name. Marshall was known for his rectitude. Although he would have had much to say, he declined to write his memoirs. He did not believe individuals such as he should reap private gains from public service.