Willie Horton: True Crime and its Influence on a Presidential Election

After stabbing a defenseless gas attendant 19 times during a robbery, Willie Horton was arrested and sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. Eleven years later Horton was given a "weekend pass" from prison, and his unexpected freedom resulted in another sadistic rampage. Did the liberal governor of Massachusetts lose his bid to become president because of his support for this supposedly rehabilitative furlough program for first-degree murderers? This fast-paced book explores this question, as well as Horton's crimes, arrests, trials, and the furlough program that became a pivotal issue during the 1988 presdential election. The book also explores the different campaign ads used during the election, such as the " Revolving Door Ad," Horton's mug shot in the "Weekend Passes" ad, and the Dukakis in the " Tank Ad." The author, a police lieutenant from Horton's former hometown, offers a unique perspective of the events.