N.Y. PUBLISHER RECALLS BUSH BIOGRAPHY

New York (Reuters) - A New York publisher, admitting that the author
of a controversial biography of Republican presidential candidate
George W. Bush had credibility problems, Friday recalled all copies
of the book.

"St. Martin's Press announces today a recall of `Fortunate Son: George W.
Bush and the Making of an American President' by J.H. Hatfield," said the
publisher. St. Martins already had suspended distribution of the book after
reports that Hatfield was convicted in 1988 for attempted murder "brought
the author's credibility into serious question."

"We have enough information from our own investigation to make the
decision that the book should be pulled. We strongly believe that this
is the right thing to do at this time," Sally Richardson, president
and publisher of St. Martin's trade division said in a statement.

St. Martin's requested that all wholesalers and retailers "immediately
return all copies of `Fortunate Son' to its warehouse."

"We are honoring their request and are returning it to the
wholesaler," said Mary Ellen Keating, a spokeswoman for Barnes and
Noble.

"Fortunate Son," which was originally due to be released early next
year, quoted unnamed sources saying that Bush was arrested for cocaine
possession in 1972, but a Republican state judge had the record
expunged in exchange for community service as a favor to the elder
(former President) George Bush who had helped him get elected.

Both Bushes have strongly denied the claim.

"They should recall it immediately and they should be ashamed that
they printed it in the first place." said Scott McClellan, Bush
campaign spokesman.

When asked if Bush was contemplating legal action against the
publisher, McClellan replied: "Attorneys are looking into it."

On Thursday, The Dallas Morning News reported that James Hatfield had
pleaded guilty in 1988, served time and was paroled in 1993 to
Arkansas authorities for trying to have his ex-boss at a financial
firm killed in a failed car-bombing attempt.

But the author, J.H. Hatfield, denied he was the same person as an
ex-convict with a similar name, James Howard Hatfield.

Arkansas state parole officer Eddie Cobb, however, told Reuters that
James Howard Hatfield and the author were the same man.

"They are the same," Cobb said in a phone interview. "Our records
reflect that he is the author of that book ('Fortunate Son'). That is
what he has told me."

Cobb said he spoke recently to Hatfield and to his knowledge Hatfield
had done nothing to jeopardize his parole.

"We have no problem. At least, no known problem. He may want to flee
to Mexico after this is over, but he's in compliance with his parole,"
Cobb said.

Hatfield could not be reached on Friday. His agent for the book, Laura
Tucker, was not available for comment.

Brief notes about Hatfield in the book said he was a syndicated
columnist, freelance Texas journalist and frequent contributor to
several Texas newspapers and magazines. It said that for over a decade
he was an executive officer in a finance and investment management
company that sometimes conducted business with Bush and his associates.

Hatfield has written several books, including one on actor Patrick Stewart,
star of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Reuters, and many other news organizations, decided not to report on
the book's accusations because of questions about the reporting.