February 1 in A.A. History

In 1918, this was the original date for the wedding of Bill W. and Lois Burnham. It had been moved up to January 24 because of the war (WWI), more specifically, there were rumors that Bill’s unit would be shipped out before February 1.

In 1942, Ruth Hock, A.A.’s first paid secretary (from 1936) and first National Secretary (from 1940), resigned her position, effective February 28th, in order to get married.

Marty M. giving a public address

In 1947, Marty M., presumably representing the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism (NCEA), of which she had been a founder, addressed the Economic Club of Detroit (and a radio audience) on the topic of “Alcoholics Anonymous.” It was “a significant milestone in public understanding of alcoholism as a treatable disease.” Her powerful, eloquent talk challenged prevailing misconceptions about alcoholism and presented A.A. as a viable path to recovery. She emphasized alcoholism’s economic costs, aligning with the Economic Club’s interests, and highlighted the potential for rehabilitation and reintegration into society. The talk was widely reported, helping to spark national conversation on alcoholism and A.A.’s potential.

In 1974, Tom P. [right]—an early California A.A. member, sober since 1946, and Assistant Secretary of Defense and Special Assistant to President Eisenhower—wrote to President Richard M. Nixon advising him to use the 12 Steps, not for his drinking, but as a way to deal with the Watergate crisis. The following is a major excerpt from this letter:

    I suggest that you substitute the word, "Watergate" for "alcohol" in the first step (which would then read "admitted we were powerless over Watergate, and that our lives had become unmanageable"). Then you should conscientiously apply the rest of the 12 steps to your own situation. I am confident such a course of personal action rigorously followed, would ultimately resolve this difficult dilemma for you and the country.
    My prime suggestion: In whatever way you can, after carefully studying Steps 4, 5, 6, and 7, put Step 10 into action: -- "when we were wrong, promptly admitted it".
    I know it's late, and there are many complexities legal and otherwise, but if you could somehow publicly admit more fully the mismanagement of Watergate, I am confident that you personally and the country will experience relief, surcease, and new hope beyond your fondest expectations.
    (See the attached Harris Poll clip from today's Los Angeles Times on Public Compassion.)
    And why? Simply because the country's President and its citizens are both human and divine and have always behaved and reacted like the creatures of God which indeed they are. I believe most people know almost instinctively that to be forgiven, they must forgive, and who among us has not erred -- does not need forgiveness?
    By using these principles, Len F▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ and Jonathan W▒▒▒▒▒▒, Jim K▒▒▒▒▒, and I have discovered the way out of the baffling personal dilemma which nearly destroyed us.
    You can too, Mr. President! If you would like to explore this personally and in greater depth, please call on me. Nothing would please me more.

    Tom had helped arrange for presentation of the 1,000,000th copy of our Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, to Nixon by Dr. Jack Norris, Chairman of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous in June 1973.