When J.H. Hatfield published a biography of George W. Bush entitled FORTUNATE SON in 1999, it looked set to become a best seller. Not afraid to detail the past indiscretions of the President, Hatfield alleged that Bush had been arrested for cocaine possession back in 1972. Publishers St. Martins Press got cold feet when they discovered Hatfield was a former felon, and immediately withdrew the publication from the shelves. Arguments raged as to whether or not the Bush administration was the real force behind the decision to drop the book, but one fact remained for sure: FORTUNATE SON was out of circulation. The tiny Soft Skull Press decided to relaunch Hatfield's tome, but struggled to make any headway towards getting the book into stores. A last throw of the dice for Soft Skull came at the 2001 Book Expo of America, where the company decided to reveal the source for much of Hatfield's information--namely Karl Rove, a close political confidant of George W. Bush. A media frenzy ensued, and the book wound up back in publication. But further sinister events were to unfold, leaving many vital questions about the Bush administration unanswered.
These events are expertly detailed in HORNS AND HALOS, a moving documentary from directors Suki Hawley and Michael Galinsky (HALF-COCKED). Speaking to many key players involved in the case, they create a detailed study, and point to some frighteningly bleak implications for the publishing world as a result of Hatfield's experiences.
