Dear David,
 
This is a very good question. I have sporadically been collecting information on cigarette smoking and tobacco-related illnesses among American political elites in the mid-twentieth century. (It's easier to find this material because smoking was then less stigmatized than drinking, and its pretty hard to hide emphysema and lung cancer.) But I don't know of any systematic prosopographical study of drinking patterns in Congress. For what it's worth, books like Caro's multi-volume LBJ bio contain many anecdotes of drinking--what you'd expect in a clubby, homosocial environment.
 
David T. Courtwright
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________________________________

From: Alcohol and Drugs History Society on behalf of David Fahey
Sent: Mon 10/2/2006 11:15 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: alcoholism in US Congress



Recently several members of the US Congress who have resigned in 
disgrace (Foley, Ney, Cunningham) appear to blame alcohol for their 
downfall.  There is a support group in Congress for acknowledged 
alcoholics (most famous participant, Patrick Kennedy).  Has there 
been any research on alcoholism in the US Congress or in politics in 
general, whether American or in other countries, for recent times or 
historically?  Politicians (and journalists) have a reputation for 
heavy drinking, but I don't know whether in fact they are more likely 
to be alcoholics than college professors or dentists or auto 
mechanics.  I define alcoholism as drinking that affects personal or 
work life adversely.