Bush: 'I'm a Better Man' for Going Cold Turkey

President saw dangers of falling 'in love with alcohol'
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 12, 2007 12:19 PM CST
Bush: 'I'm a Better Man' for Going Cold Turkey
Sara Johnson, from Farmington Hills, Mich., who is recovering from drug addiction, right, Justin Calderon, 19, of Riverside , Calif., a former drug user who is helping at risk children, center, and Mallory Hamilton, 16, from Liberty, Mo., an anti-drug advocate, listen to President Bush, not pictured,...   (Associated Press)

After reaching out to a teenager battling drug addiction, President Bush spoke candidly of his past struggle with alcoholism, saying "I doubt I'd be standing here if I hadn't quit drinking whiskey, and beer and wine and all that." Alcohol "competes for your affection" for family and zeal for activities, Bush told ABC News in an exclusive interview.

While professing not to be a "knee-walking drunk," Bush told the girl "Your president had to make the same kind of choice." Bush quit drinking cold turkey after a boozy night in 1986, and says he's "a better man for it." The full interview airs tonight on Nightline. (More George W. Bush stories.)

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