NOT SO SAINTED

Have Some Publishing Houses Jettisoned All Standards?

Irresponsible and scurrilous charges hurled against presidential candidates
are commonplace. However, the publication of Fortunate Son: The Making of
an American President confirms the inroads that today's tabloid mentality
has made among formerly reputable book publishers.

The book, published by St. Martin's Press, alleges without basis that Gov.
George W. Bush was arrested in 1972 for possession of cocaine, but that
Bush's father used his influence to get the arrest record expunged. The
book's author, J.H. Hatfield, is on parole, having served five years in
prison after being convicted of attempted murder.

St. Martin's has ceased to distribute the book and is recalling some 70,000
copies from bookstores. But the publisher bears ultimate responsibility for
releasing the dubious book without making any effort to confirm the
authenticity of its sensational charges.

It's one thing for a publisher to publish a book of controversial
speculation or comment, whether the subject is political, scientific or
philosophical. But to edit and print a book making demonstrably false
accusations against a public figure goes beyond the pale of professional
responsibility and even of free expression. St. Martin's bears even greater
responsibility for adding the false and offensive chapter at the last
moment before publication.

Gov. Bush's reputation will be little damaged by the baseless charges
contained in Fortunate Son. He might even acquire immunity to any future
charges made by political rivals.

The reputation of St. Martin's Press, however, has suffered incalculable
damage. St. Martin's and others of its ilk among American publishers are
left to communicate to their customers whether there remains any limit to
how much integrity and responsibility they will sacrifice in order to
increase sales.