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p2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1608. . . . . . . . . . . . Periodical Literature, The Amarillo, October 22, 1944 From: NMOlson@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/22/2004 3:35:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII THE LOST WEEKEND Charles Jackson gives us five days out of a man's life while in the flamboyant arms of alcohol; this type of a book might have been burdensome or highly sensational--instead the author has given as clear a picture of what goes on in the mind of an alcoholic as is probably possible. William Seabrook treated the matter completely in his ASYLUM, but this is the meticulous and factual account of a good mind holding its own throughout the flattering of the ego and the anti-social aspects produced by excessive drinking. To the layman, alcoholism is merely a state of being drunk, of intoxication; but to those who have studied psychopathic trends, alcoholism is a release of all that man has within him, it is the highest and at once the lowest. Within the confines of the bonds of this stimulant, man achieves his loftiest ambitions in thought, experiences and aberrations to do with everything from theft to possible murder, which the true alcoholic shuns. As the book and serious writers on the subject point out, it is only the drug addict who will kill to satisfy his appetite. Alcoholics may beg, steal, borrow or pawn to satisfy that thirst, but murder as a general rule is foreign to such a disturbed mind. Mr. Jackson has contributed what is possibly the finest study in print of true alcoholism from the standpoint of the afflicted; his book is a priceless primer toward understanding of that great number who find escape for such a short time down the drinkers' road. After so much trash has been written on this and kindred subjects, concerning the 'escapist' side of man, this book should prove invaluable to mankind to understanding not only alcoholics, but his own reactions based upon whole or part intoxication. Mr. Jackson is not the type of writer to soft-pedal his ideas, but the sex angle of this book is well into the background and hardly raises its inquiring head; of course this might be different in relation to the subject--assuredly women alcoholics react differently than the males, but in all people of this type, the sex-life plays a dominant part and this author has given full scope to the possibility if not elaborating upon it. To those who have seen patients of this type by the dozens, confined behind institution walls, this book will find a welcome world of avid readers; to those whose lives are touched with the "fiery fumes" of this line of escape, let them read and analyze for themselves, forgetting that dreams are all necessary to escape the realities of life. No human being should miss this book, moreover, no human being can afford to.
From: Jim Blair . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/22/2004 3:40:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII DAvid wrote Does anyone know if the Wombleys clapboard factory explosion ( referenced in Tradition 4 in the 12&12 ) was an actual event, or just a figure of speech.
Dorset and he claims that the foundations of the clapboard factory can still be seen. Jim
++++Message 1611. . . . . . . . . . . . Origin of Rule #62 From: timwarner1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/22/2004 3:19:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi everybody, First of all, please forgive me if this subject has been addressed previously. I did use the search function in both the AAHISTORYLOVERS and the AAHISTORYBUFFS groups, to no avail.
beloved Rule #62? I'm almost positive that I heard Bill W. describe the origins of this term on a speaker tape, but I can't for the life of me remember which speech it was. The more detail you could provide, the better. Thanks so much. Yours, Tim W.
++++Message 1612. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Origin of Rule #62 From: Arthur Sheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/23/2004 12:12:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi Tim - Following are some published sources: Not God, pg 107: This reference suggests that the 'super-promoter" sobered up in early 1940. He first wrote to the Alcoholic Foundation outlining his ideas and applying for a "super-charter." The letter on "rule #62" came later after the ideas collapsed. AA Grapevine, August 1952 on Tradition Four: This reference is the initial version of the essay material later incorporated into the 12&12 and AA Comes of Age. Bill's first editorial on (the long form of) Tradition Four, in the March 1948 Grapevine, makes no mention of the rule #62 story. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs 147-149: Published in 1953, this is the generally accepted source of the story. AA Comes of Age, pgs 103-104: Published in 1957, this version of the story just mentions a "clapboard factory" and not "Wombley's Clapboard Factory" to describe the collapse of the grandiose plan. This was part of Bill W's Second Legacy talk at the historic 20th Anniversary Convention in St Louis, MO.
overshadows the central notion of Tradition Four that "every group has the right to be wrong." One other thing, is that sometimes this Tradition unfortunately gets interpreted as an all-too-convenient loophole to arbitrarily ignore the principles embedded in the Traditions.
Arthur
From: timwarner1990 Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 2:19 PM Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Origin of Rule #62
previously. I did use the search function in both the AAHISTORYLOVERS and the AAHISTORYBUFFS groups, to no avail.
beloved Rule #62? I'm almost positive that I heard Bill W. describe the origins of this term on a speaker tape, but I can't for the life of me remember which speech it was. The more detail you could provide, the better. Thanks so much. Yours, Tim W.
++++Message 1613. . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Bob''s Last Drink From: NMOlson@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/24/2004 3:21:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII The following question was received recently from Ted C. in Australia: Subject: Dr Bob's Last Drink Can anyone ascertain the EXACT date of Dr Bob's last drink. Assuming the medical convention that he attended in June actually started on the 10th, as reported on this forum, and given the travelling time back from Atlantic City. Add to that the blackout that he had.(pp73-74 Dr Bob & the GOT) etc., and considering that surgeons only operated on perhaps one day a week, an exact date could be ascertained.
Alcoholics Anonymous archivist Mitchell K. Dr. Bob's Last Drink Bill W. had met a kindred spirit in Dr. Bob. Both men were born in Vermont, both were intelligent and both were alcoholics. They somehow knew that fateful evening in Henrietta Seiberling's Gatehouse home both of them were going to be okay. Dr. Bob kept his promise to Anne. That is, until he boarded the train to Atlantic City. After a few weeks of working with each other and attempting to deliver the message of recovery to other alcoholics Bill and Dr. Bob did not appear to be discouraged. Despite their not being able to bring another rummy into the fold -- they were staying sober. Quite a feat for Dr. Bob who had been attending Oxford Group meetings even prior to getting together with Bill.
American Medical Association. He had not missed a convention in 20 years and did not plan on missing this one. Bob's wife, Anne was set against him attending the convention. She remembered previous ones where he had gotten drunk.
those who had stopped drinking, would have to begin to learn how to live in the real world. She finally agreed and off he went.
Atlantic City. Once on the train Dr. Bob began to drink in earnest. He drank all the way to Atlantic City, purchased more bottles prior to checking in to the hotel. That was on a Sunday evening. Dr. Bob stayed sober on Monday until after dinner. He then resumed his drinking. Upon awakening Tuesday morning his drinking continued until noon. He then realized that he was about to disgrace himself by showing up at the convention drunk. 24-Hour Blackout He decided to check out of the hotel and return home. He purchased more alcohol on the way to the train depot. He waited for the train for a long time and continued to drink. That was all he remembered until waking up in the home of his office nurse and her husband back in Ohio. In order to insure the steadiness of Dr. Bob's hands during the operation Bill gave him a bottle of beer. Dr. Bob's blackout lasted over 24 hours. There was a five-day period from when Dr. Bob left for the convention to when the nurse called Anne and Bill. They took Dr. Bob home and put him to bed. The detoxification process began once again. That process usually lasted three days according to Bill. They tapered Dr. Bob off of alcohol and fed him a diet of sauerkraut, tomato juice and Karo Syrup. Bill had remembered that in three days, Dr. Bob was scheduled to perform surgery. On the day of the surgery, Dr. Bob had recovered sufficiently to go to work. In order to insure the steadiness of Dr. Bob's hands during the operation Bill gave him a bottle of beer. That was to be Dr. Bob's last drink and the "official" Founding date of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Both Bill and Anne were concerned to say the least. They later found out, after Dr. Bob had returned, that he was out making amends. Not drunk as they may have surmised, but happy and sober. That date according to the AA literature was June 10, 1935.
After all, it was the date Dr. Bob had his last drink -- or was it? Recently discovered evidence appears to differ with the "official" literature.
convention in Atlantic City, in the year 1935 did not start until June 10th. How could Dr. Bob have gone to the convention, by train -- check into a hotel -- attend the convention on Monday -- check out on Tuesday -- be in a blackout for 24 hours -- go through a three-day detoxification -- perform surgery on the day of his last drink -- June 10, 1935? It now appears that the date of Dr. Bob's last drink was probably on, or about, June 17, 1935. Five days had passed since Dr. Bob left for the convention and returned to Akron. There was the three-day detoxification process and then there was the day of the surgery. Approximately nine days had passed from when he left and the date of his last drink. If the records of the American Medical Association are in error as to the date of their convention it is possible that June 10, 1935, was the date of Dr. Bob's last drink. If the records are in error, the 1935 convention would have been the only one in the history of the American Medical Association that was listed with the wrong date.
about, June 17, 1935. Maybe AA should keep the June 10th date as a symbolic Founding Date rather than claim it as the actual one? Maybe the date should be changed to reflect historical accuracy? Either way, Dr. Bob never drank again until his death, November 16, 1950. Dr. Bob sponsored more than 5,000 AA members and left the legacy of his life as an example. Dr. Bob told those he sponsored that there were three things one had to do to keep sober: TRUST GOD, CLEAN HOUSE, HELP OTHERS. More will be revealed… IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1614. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Dr. Bob''s Last Drink From: Arthur . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/24/2004 6:57:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi Ted The date of June 17 looks pretty compelling as Dr Bob's dry date. Barefoot Bill obtained confirmation from the AMA Archives in Chicago, IL that the 1935 Atlantic City, NJ Convention was held from Mon to Fri, June 10-14, 1935. Also, there is a graphic of the AMA convention program circulating on the web and it clearly indicates June 10-14. There are also good clues in the literature for a deduction. *In AA Comes of Age (pgs 70-71*) Bill writes "So he [Dr Bob] went to the Atlantic City Medical Convention and nothing was heard of him for several days." *In Dr Bob and the Good Oldtimers (pgs 72-75)* it cites (with my editing for brevity) Dr Bob ... began drinking … as he boarded the train to Atlantic City. On his arrival he bought several quarts on his way to the hotel. That was Sunday night. He stayed sober on Monday until after dinner... On Tuesday, Bob started drinking in the morning and … [checked out of the hotel]… The next thing he knew … he was … in the … home of his office nurse... The blackout was certainly more than 24 hours long … Bill and Anne had waited for five days from the time Bob left before they heard from the nurse... She had picked him up that morning at the Akron railroad station... As Bill and Sue remembered, there was a 3-day sobering up period... Upon Dr Bob's return, they had discovered that he was due to perform surgery 3 days later... At 4 o'clock on the morning of the operation [Bob] … said "I am going through with this...'' On the way to City Hospital ... Bill … gave him a beer… *In the video Bill's Own Story,* Bill says he gave Dr Bob a beer and a "goofball" [a barbiturate] on the morning of the surgery. The same information is repeated in *Pass It On, pgs 147-149*. See also *Not God, pgs 32-33.* Estimate on the turn of events: *June** Dr Bob* 09 Sunday Checked into Atlantic City Hotel (started drinking on the train on the way in) 10 Monday Stayed sober until after dinner 11 Tuesday Began drinking in the morning - later checked out of the hotel. 12 Wednesday Went into blackout (likely greater than 24 hours) 13 Thursday Blackout continues (may have arrived at Akron train station) 14 Friday Picked up by nurse in the morning at the train station Then picked up by Bill at nurse's house (5 days after leaving) Day 1 of 3-day dry out period 15 Saturday Day 2 of 3-day dry out period 16 Sunday Day 3 of 3-day dry out period 17 Monday Day of surgery - Bill gives Bob a beer and a goofball (3 days after Bob's return) Cheers Arthur
From: NMOlson@aol.com Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 7:21 AM Subject: Dr. Bob's Last Drink
the 10th, as reported on this forum, and given the travelling time back from Atlantic City. Add to that the blackout that he had.(pp73-74 Dr Bob & the GOT) etc., and considering that surgeons only operated on perhaps one day a week, an exact date could be ascertained.
Alcoholics Anonymous archivist Mitchell K. Dr. Bob's Last Drink Bill W. had met a kindred spirit in Dr. Bob. Both men were born in Vermont, both were intelligent and both were alcoholics. They somehow knew that fateful evening in Henrietta Seiberling's Gatehouse home both of them were going to be okay.
Atlantic City.
message of recovery to other alcoholics Bill and Dr. Bob did not appear to be discouraged. Despite their not being able to bring another rummy into the fold -- they were staying sober. Quite a feat for Dr. Bob who had been attending Oxford Group meetings even prior to getting together with Bill.
American Medical Association. He had not missed a convention in 20 years and did not plan on missing this one. Bob's wife, Anne was set against him attending the convention. She remembered previous ones where he had gotten drunk.
those who had stopped drinking, would have to begin to learn how to live in the real world. She finally agreed and off he went. Dr. Bob kept his promise to Anne. That is, until he boarded the train to Atlantic City. Once on the train Dr. Bob began to drink in earnest. He drank all the way to Atlantic City, purchased more bottles prior to checking in to the hotel. That was on a Sunday evening. Dr. Bob stayed sober on Monday until after dinner. He then resumed his drinking. Upon awakening Tuesday morning his drinking continued until noon. He then realized that he was about to disgrace himself by showing up at the convention drunk.
He decided to check out of the hotel and return home. He purchased more alcohol
on the way to the train depot. He waited for the train for a long time and continued to drink. That was all he remembered until waking up in the home of his office nurse and her husband back in Ohio. In order to insure the steadiness of Dr. Bob's hands during the operation Bill
gave him a bottle of beer. Dr. Bob's blackout lasted over 24 hours. There was a five-day period from when
Dr. Bob left for the convention to when the nurse called Anne and Bill. They took Dr. Bob home and put him to bed. The detoxification process began once again. That process usually lasted three days according to Bill. They tapered
Dr. Bob off of alcohol and fed him a diet of sauerkraut, tomato juice and Karo
Syrup. Bill had remembered that in three days, Dr. Bob was scheduled to perform surgery. On the day of the surgery, Dr. Bob had recovered sufficiently to go to work. In order to insure the steadiness of Dr. Bob's hands during the operation Bill gave him a bottle of beer. That was to be Dr. Bob's last drink and the "official" Founding date of Alcoholics Anonymous. The operation was a success and Dr. Bob did not return home right after it. Both Bill and Anne were concerned to say the least. They later found out, after Dr. Bob had returned, that he was out making amends. Not drunk as they may have surmised, but happy and sober. That date according to the AA literature was June 10, 1935.
After
all, it was the date Dr. Bob had his last drink -- or was it? Recently discovered evidence appears to differ with the "official" literature. The "Official" Date The Archives of the American Medical Association reportedly show that their convention in Atlantic City, in the year 1935 did not start until June 10th. How could Dr. Bob have gone to the convention, by train -- check into a hotel
-- attend the convention on Monday -- check out on Tuesday -- be in a blackout
for 24 hours -- go through a three-day detoxification -- perform surgery on the
day of his last drink -- June 10, 1935? It now appears that the date of Dr. Bob's last drink was probably on, or about,
June 17, 1935. Five days had passed since Dr. Bob left for the convention and returned to Akron. There was the three-day detoxification process and then there was the day of the surgery. Approximately nine days had passed from when he left and the date of his last drink. If the records of the American Medical Association are in error as to the date
of their convention it is possible that June 10, 1935, was the date of Dr. Bob's last drink. If the records are in error, the 1935 convention would have been the only one in the history of the American Medical Association that was listed with the wrong date. It now appears that the date of Dr. Bob's last drink was probably on, or about,
June 17, 1935. Maybe AA should keep the June 10th date as a symbolic Founding
Date rather than claim it as the actual one? Maybe the date should be changed
to reflect historical accuracy? Either way, Dr. Bob never drank again until his death, November 16, 1950. Dr.
Bob sponsored more than 5,000 AA members and left the legacy of his life as an example. Dr. Bob told those he sponsored that there were three things one had to do to keep sober: TRUST GOD, CLEAN HOUSE, HELP OTHERS. More will be revealed… IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1615. . . . . . . . . . . . Closing statement From: friendofbillw89 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/25/2004 10:01:00 PM Download 4.17 Mb. Share with your friends:
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