The Real Anita Hill
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | David Brock |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
The Real Anita Hill is a contentious 1993 publication by David Brock that purports to disclose the "actual intentions" behind Anita Hill's allegations of sexual harassment against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during his 1991 confirmation process. Brock subsequently confessed to inventing these intentions and has renounced the book.
Background
Brock initially published a highly critical article about Hill in The American Spectator in March 1992, which served as the foundation for The Real Anita Hill. The book elicited a range of responses: it was positively reviewed by commentators such as George Will in Newsweek, Jonathan Groner of Legal Times writing for The Washington Post, and Christopher Lehmann-Haupt from The New York Times, who commended its investigative depth and reasoning. Portions were also featured in the Wall Street Journal. Conversely, it drew significant rebuke from journalists including Jane Mayer, Jill Abramson, Anna Quindlen, Dierdre English, among others, criticizing its viewpoint and investigative methods.
Legacy
In retrospect, Brock characterizes the work as an act of "character assassination" and has rejected its core argument. He issued an apology to Hill and, in his subsequent book Blinded by the Right, admitted his participation as "a willing instrument in the Republican smear campaign," confessing to deliberately deceiving readers to advance a conservative political objective.