CBA Record May-June 2022

35 TH ANN I VERSARY OF THE CBA RECORD

several quart pitchers of Manhattans to a rowdy tableful of jet fighter pilots. In a whisky hoarse voice, and with some heat, the Colonel told me I was a “chicken shit smart ass” who actually “knew nothing.” In a Truman Capote lisp I responded, “Oh my, what a snit our Colonel is in this evening – ta, ta.” Then I flounced off. I was told that the Colonel’s incoherent rage rose almost to the epileptic level. In the Fall of 1953 I went to work for Mayer, Meyer, Austrian & Platt as a litiga tor whose goal was to be a commercial trial lawyer. Over time, I became one and was admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers and was also listed in all edi tions of “The Best Lawyers in America” under Business Litigation through 1996. The 1950’s culture of trial lawyers was similar to that of the steel industry and

abled son at a ranch in Arkansas operated by our pediatrician. In the mid 70’s one of our sons died in a gun accident, and my wife had cancer surgery followed by some years of off-and-on “chemo.” She has been in remission for decades. What Happened By the early 70’s, the steady increase of my alcohol intake had gone beyond any cultural influence and was becoming dan gerous. Social events that did not include booze had no interest for me. Debbie pleaded with me to count my drinks. A gala surprise party arranged by her in honor of my 50th birthday in December of 1977 was marred by my getting drunk and toxically nasty. In June of 1978 I received a phone call from the Secretary of the Chairman of

I had various heavily disguised reac tions: Betrayed! Sandbagged! Trapped! Watch it! Simmer down! Better go along with this, be appreciative. Be nice, Pat baby, or you might end up divorced and fired. I thanked the group for being so sensi tive to my needs, made it clear that I loved them all and the Firm, and promised to haul my sorry ass into the Lutheran Gen eral unit the next day. My 21-day stay at Lutheran General in 1978 was not productive. I was in a condition of defiant denial. Treatment only convinced me that when I started drinking again, I must be more careful. I advanced arguments against every lecture and every panel discussion about alco holism which implicated me. But I never openly objected to anything except once:

I expressed revulsion to all the gushy talk in “Group” about “feelings” and suggested the discus sions ought to focus on “facts.” At the exit interview from Lutheran General, my Counselor said to me, “You’ll drink again Mr. Lawyer.” In a whiny and servile victim’s voice I said to her: “How can you be so unkind! I attended and participated in all the classes and ‘Groups’ and I read all assigned materials

the Mayer, Brown & Platt Management Committee asking that I attend a meeting that afternoon on a “personal matter.” I had only one beer for lunch that day instead of the usual two or three martinis. At the meeting I was informed that the Firm “loved” me but was worried about my drinking. There had been discussions with the Firm initiated by the Deb on the subject of “treatment” for alcoholism. My older brother was also involved. In fact, I was told, a reservation had been made for me at the “Unit” at Lutheran General Hospital. I was to check in the next day.

the United States Air Force – never fail to show up, work and play hard, drink as you see fit, but don’t get too much out of line. I learned later that the same culture is found in businessmen, politicians, report ers, doctors, law professors, etc., etc. Eventually I learned that hard drinkers and alcoholics find each other no matter what they do for a living. In 1955 I married Deborah Bis sell. The birth of children commenced in 1956 and ended in 1969. Even with miscarriages and the death of an infant shortly after birth, we had three daughters and two sons at home and a severely dis

– God knows [choke], I [sob] tried!” Pursuant to my plan to “lay low” and feign enthusiasm for the “program” for a year or so, I did not drink for a while and attended meetings of the “program” suggested by Lutheran General. I went to one just about every night because the situation at home was tense and dour. Each meeting featured success stories about total victories over alcohol and other addictions by the young, black, old, white, halt and lame. These stories gener ally climaxed with statements of the joy and serenity being experienced by the

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