Caspar Weinberger Writes Thriller Novel

Posted on July 7, 2005

Caspar Weinberger, a two-term Secretary of Defense under Ronald Reagan, has penned a thriller novel with Peter Schweizer called Chain of Command. The novel has already receivd a starred review from Publishers Weekly and a favorable review in the Christian Science Monitor. Weinberger told USA Today that he didn't use any classified information in the novel:

Weinberger, reached by phone at his home in Maine, says he and Schweizer exchanged manuscript drafts when they were creating the story of Secret Service agent Michael Delaney, who is falsely implicated in the assassination of the president at Camp David. Although Weinberger drew on his almost seven years as Defense secretary, "I didn't want to use any material that is classified. ... I wanted to be sure that I wasn't breaking any laws or pledges."

Chain of Command also details how a series of terrorist attacks create an acceptance of martial law in a nation that always has "prided itself in being an open and free society," Weinberger says.

Despite turning 88 next month Weinberger plans to do book signings and radio appearances.

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