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Former President Bush blasts book about his sonOctober 24, 1999 WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Calling it "a fraud," former President George Bush on Sunday attacked a book about his son that was recalled from shelves by its publisher after reports that the author had concealed a criminal record.
"I tell you, it's one of the things that makes a lot of people stay out of public service," the former president said on Fox News. The book, "Fortunate Son -- George W. Bush and the Making of an American President," was written by James H. Hatfield. The publisher, St. Martin's Press, recalled 70,000 copies of the book from store shelves Friday after the Dallas Morning News and The Washington Post reported that Hatfield was convicted in 1988 of plotting to kill a co-worker. Texas prison officials confirm that a man named James Howard Hatfield went to prison in 1988 for trying to have his ex- boss killed in a Dallas car bombing. He was paroled in 1993. CNN's attempts to reach the author failed, but he told the Morning News it was a case of mistaken identity. The attorney for the intended victim said he was sure "that's the same fella." The book cited three anonymous sources as saying that George W. Bush was arrested for cocaine possession in 1972. It says Bush had his record expunged in exchange for his participation in a Houston community service program by a Republican judge whom the elder Bush helped get elected. The Bush campaign flatly denied the charges, and the former president called his lawyer. "I was so outraged, I did something I seldom do. And I asked our attorney to talk to the man, and they just brushed me off," Bush said. It was not clear whether he was referring to the author or the publisher or both. "Who wants to have books written that are totally false?" Bush asked. "Oh, yes, he had three sources. Who are they? Couldn't say. Who was this judge that supposedly was bribed by me? Well, he couldn't say. A Republican judge. We didn't even have a Republican judge back in those days." Bush, who was on Fox promoting his own book, "All the Best," hinted that he's not dropping the matter. "I may not be finished with this yet," Bush said. "It's outrageous." |
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