The book alleges that Bush received preferential treatment throughout his life, from his early schooling at Andover, Yale and Harvard, to his business connections in Midland, Texas, and his personal ownership interest in the Texas Rangers baseball team, to his candidacy for Governor and President.

Hatfield argues that Bush succeeded in life not on merit, but on family connections alone, as a member of a modern oligarchy.

Soon after the book's release, The Dallas Morning News reported that Hatfield was a paroled felon who had been convicted in 1988 of paying a hit man $5,000 to murder his former boss with a car bomb.

Hatfield at first denied the allegations when his publisher confronted him, but he eventually owned up to his criminal history.

Police reports cited the events occurring in the aftermath of Fortunate Son's publication as a reason for taking his own life.