In 1917, the U.S. Senate voted 47–8 in favor of a joint resolution to override the
veto by President Woodrow Wilson
[right]
of the Volstead Act, which the House had passed the day before. This Act,
officially known as the National Prohibition Enforcement Act, aimed to amend
the Constitution to prohibit “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of
intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the
exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the
jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes.”* It then proceeded
to the 48 states for ratification. On 9 January 1919, Nebraska would become
the 36th state to ratify it, and one year later, on 9 January 1920, it would
officially become the 18th Amendment to the United States
Constitution.
*Note that it did not prohibit consumption, possession, or production for personal use.
In 1934, Bill W. was discharged from Charles B. Towns Hospital for the last time. The charge for his one-week stay was $125 [~$3,000 in 2025], paid in advance by his brother-in-law, Dr. Leonard V. Strong.
In 1952, Hector C. wrote to the General Service Office (G.S.O.) in New York City from Buenos Aires, Argentina
[left: location of Argentina and Buenos Aires], asking for help. Hector had been in treatment for alcoholism there since
September. His letter immediately sparked a lively and ongoing
correspondence, primarily with staff member Ann M., whom Hector came to
consider his sponsor. (At one point, Ann M.’s first letter in this
conversation was framed and displayed in Buenos Aires to commemorate the
birth of A.A. in Argentina.)
[right]
of the Volstead Act, which the House had passed the day before. This Act,
officially known as the National Prohibition Enforcement Act, aimed to amend
the Constitution to prohibit “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of
intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the
exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the
jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes.”* It then proceeded
to the 48 states for ratification. On 9 January 1919, Nebraska would become
the 36th state to ratify it, and one year later, on 9 January 1920, it would
officially become the 18th Amendment to the United States
Constitution.
*Note that it did not prohibit consumption, possession, or production for personal use.
In 1934, Bill W. was discharged from Charles B. Towns Hospital for the last time. The charge for his one-week stay was $125 [~$3,000 in 2025], paid in advance by his brother-in-law, Dr. Leonard V. Strong.
In 1952, Hector C. wrote to the General Service Office (G.S.O.) in New York City from Buenos Aires, Argentina
[left: location of Argentina and Buenos Aires], asking for help. Hector had been in treatment for alcoholism there since
September. His letter immediately sparked a lively and ongoing
correspondence, primarily with staff member Ann M., whom Hector came to
consider his sponsor. (At one point, Ann M.’s first letter in this
conversation was framed and displayed in Buenos Aires to commemorate the
birth of A.A. in Argentina.)
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