Rowling was in line to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to American culture.
But the honour was vetoed by White House officials on the grounds she promotes sorcery, according to the former president's speech writer Matt Latimer.
In his new book, Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor, Latimer blames "narrow thinking" for the award snub. Bush bestowed the honour on former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Current U.S. President Barack Obama has also handed the award to physicist Stephen Hawking.
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