A published report says former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan heavily criticizes President George W. Bush in his upcoming book.

Politico.com reports that in his 341-page book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," McClellan accuses Bush of relying on "propaganda" for selling the Iraq war.

Also in the book, the former press secretary claims two top aides held a secret meeting to get their story straight about the CIA leak case at a time when federal prosecutors were investigating.

McClellan admits that some of his own assertions from the White House briefing room podium turned out to be "badly misguided."

In the book McClellan writes, "I still like and admire President Bush...but he and his advisers confused the propaganda campaign with the high level of candor and honesty so fundamentally needed to build and then sustain public support during a time of war...In this regard, he (Bush) was terribly ill-served by his top advisers, especially those involved directly in national security."

The book is to be released on June 2.

McClellan served as White House press secretary from July 2003 to April 2006.