October 27, 1999
Web posted at: 2:58 PM EDT (1858 GMT)

NEW YORK -- Robert Wallace, the editor-in-chief of St. Martin's Press Trade Division, the publisher of the controversial new biography of Texas Governor George W. Bush, has resigned.

The unauthorized biography, "Fortunate Son: George W. Bush and the Making of an American President," by James Hatfield was recalled by the publisher last Friday, only days after it had reached bookstores.

Relying on three anonymous sources, the Hatfield book reported in its afterword that Bush was arrested for cocaine possession in 1972 but had his record expunged by a Republican judge in exchange for Bush's participation in a Houston community service program.

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Besides the anonymous quotes, Hatfield revealed no corroborating evidence, such as an arrest record or the identity of the compliant judge.

Gov. Bush has called the story "totally ridiculous."

"The incorrect impression may have been given that I or any of the twenty very competent editors who work for me were in any way involved," Wallace said in a written statement.

Wallace said he had no oversight or control over the book, which was "acquired, edited, published by Thomas Dunne Books, an autonomous imprint within St. Martin's Press."

Hatfield arrest photograph

"I do not in any way wish to have my name associated with "Fortunate Son" or future books published by Thomas Dunne Books over which I have no control," Wallace said.

St. Martin's President Sally Richardson said she was surprised by Wallace's resignation and disputed his claim.

"Several weeks prior to the book's publication, Bob Wallace read the afterword and advised us on various aspects of the book's launch," Richardson said. "At no time prior to its release did he object to the afterword or the publication of the book," Richardson said.

Late Wednesday in a telephone interview with CNN, Wallace admitted reading the afterword, but not the rest of Hatfield's text, "I saw the afterword late in the game," Wallace said, "but wasn't aware of the credentials of the writer."

Wallace said all he knew is that the book had been vetted by the lawyers. "I didn't know the writer. I wasn't involved in the editing," Wallace said.

St. Martin's recalled the book because it learned Hatfield had a criminal record which "calls into question our continued ability to trust the information provided to us," the publisher said last week.

Hatfield was convicted of a failed 1987 murder-for-hire plot that sought to car bomb his former employer. He served five years of a 15-year sentence, according to the Dallas Morning News, which broke the story.

In addition, Hatfield was convicted in 1992 of embezzling thousands of dollars in federal housing money, the Morning News reported.