Book About Obama’s White House May Land Author in Hot Water

A book about Obama's time in the White House may land the author in hot water after accusations of fabrication.

Ron Suskind's Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President hit bookstores on Tuesday.

There is controversy in terms of attribution, as some of the sources denied saying what they had been quoted as saying.

Suskind quoted former White House communications director Anita Dunn as saying that the White House under Obama actually fit all of the classic legal requirements for a genuinely hostile workplace to women.

Dunn denied saying this in an interview with Politico.

This is not what I told the author, this is not what I believe and anyone who knows me and my history of supporting this president as a candidate and in office knows this isn't true, she told Politico.

Suskind quoted former U.S. National Economic Council director Lawrence Summers as having told then-director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag that there was no adult in charge when it came to economic policy.

Clinton would never have made these mistakes, Summers told Orszag, Suskind reported.

Summers denied ever having said this in a comment to Politico.

The hearsay attributed to me is a combination of fiction, distortion and words taken out of context, Summers wrote to Politico. I can't speak to what others have told Mr. Suskind, but I have always believed that the president has led this country with determined, steady and practical leadership in the economic area.

Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner commented on the book's portrayal of him as lagging when it came to implementing economic decisions in a White House press briefing on Monday.

Geithner said the reality bore no relation to the sad little stories he heard were reported in the book.

Well, obviously I do disagree with that characterization, Geithner told reporters. I haven't read this book, but to borrow a phrase, I lived the reality. And the reports I've read about this book bear no resemblance to the reality we lived together. No resemblance.