February 10 in A.A. History

In 1922, Harold E. Hughes [right] was born on a farm near Ida Grove, Iowa.

    After recovering from alcoholism, he would become governor of Iowa, a U.S. senator, and the leading dark horse candidate for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination, at least until he dropped out of the race. He would author legislation that created the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and other federal legislation to help alcoholics and addicts. In public life, he was open about being an alcoholic.

 In 1958, Bill W. responded to a letter from Ollie and Ruth J. in an attempt to clarify and drive home an important distinction in the selfishness of an alcoholic:

    It seems to me that the primary object of any human being is to grow, that being the nature of all living things. There­fore he is bound to have a huge self-interest.

    Ollie and Ruth had written to Bill to object to members calling A.A. a “selfish” program.