Book: Bush White House Said No To J.K. Rowling

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - A new book by a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush includes a report that White House officials did not want to give the Presidential Medal of Freedom to author J.K. Rowling because her writing "encouraged witchcraft."

According to Think Progress , author Matt Latimer in his book "Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor" writes that the award became very politicized. He states, "This was the same sort of narrow thinking that led people in the White House to actually object to giving the author J.K. Rowling a presidential medal because the Harry Potter books encouraged witchcraft."

Latimer's memoir was released last week by Crown Publishers to generally good reviews, though some colleagues, including his former boss in the White House, William McGurn, are not impressed .

The Leaky Cauldron , a Harry Potter fan site, noted that during the Bush administration, the president and first lady Laura Bush were vocal about their love for the Potter books. Laura Bush called the books her favorite . "It was like finding a great mystery writer and having that whole body of work to read at once. I really loved them," she said during a 2003 interview.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is bestowed by the president and is the nation's highest civil award. It is awarded to individuals who have made a contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, culture or other significant endeavor.

J.K. Rowling also recently joined Twitter. She posted three tweets last week, but already has over 45,000 followers.