Richard Nixon and the "Big Book"
Akron, Ohio is considered to be the home of Alcoholics Anonymous, a 12-step organization which helps men and women to arrest their alcoholism. In 1939 that organization published its principal text, a book formally entitled "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism", but colloquially known to its members as "The Big Book". The book is one of the best-selling books of all time Over 30 million copies have been sold and it is claimed that it is the second best selling book of all time, the first being the Bible. In 2011, Time magazine placed the book on its list of the 100 best and most influential books written in English since 1923, the beginning of the magazine.
On April 16, 1973, sales of the book first reached the one million mark. In a ceremony held at the White House, a book purporting to be the one millionth copy was presented to President Richard M. Nixon. Dr. Jack Norris, a non-alcoholic Chairman of the AA General Service Board, was the representative who presented President Nixon with the one-millionth copy of the Big Book at the White House.
It is doubtful if Nixon ever read the book or took any of its message to heart, according to journalist and author Don Fulson, who makes several allegations and accusations that Nixon was an alcohol abuser in his 2011 book Nixon's Darkest Secrets: The Inside Story of America's Most Troubled President.
On April 16, 1973, sales of the book first reached the one million mark. In a ceremony held at the White House, a book purporting to be the one millionth copy was presented to President Richard M. Nixon. Dr. Jack Norris, a non-alcoholic Chairman of the AA General Service Board, was the representative who presented President Nixon with the one-millionth copy of the Big Book at the White House.
It is doubtful if Nixon ever read the book or took any of its message to heart, according to journalist and author Don Fulson, who makes several allegations and accusations that Nixon was an alcohol abuser in his 2011 book Nixon's Darkest Secrets: The Inside Story of America's Most Troubled President.