On the snowy winter morning of December 13, 1994, in Madison, Wisconsin, the body of Terry McGovern was discovered in a small parking area, near a tavern, partially buried under several inches of snow. The coroners report of her death stated her body stopped functioning due to long exposure to the extreme winter conditions. Her father, the ex-senator from South Dakota and 1972 presidential candidate for the Democratic party, knew the truth. His beloved daughter was an alcoholic and unlike numerous other close calls, this time he could not rush to her aid and save his daughter from a blackout.

Every day in America 300 people die from alcoholism. In nearly every situation it is a sordid event. Drunken, foolish people slay one another in bars, homes, and on highways. Death from hopelessness is the most difficult to understand. It is this hopeless emptiness that moved George McGovern to write of his daughters life. ". . . it is virtually impossible to be silent about it, because I wanted her life and death to be understood and appreciated-and I wanted others to gain from the lessons her life can teach. I have written every word long hand on pads of yellow legal size paper. These sheets show many small smudges. That is what happens when tears fall onto the page."

Alcoholism is a family disease. "It is a family disease in that it tends to run in some family trees more than others. It is a family disease also in that the alcoholic's disease will over time affect mental, emotional, financial, and lifestyle factors relating to the rest of the family. In a sense, the alcoholic's disease erupts in ways that threaten the entire family's health and well-being."

Countless families have suffered the ravages of alcoholism and those with family businesses know all too well the difficulties of tending a business while wrestling with an alcoholic. In a family business the problem of alcoholism is often compounded because of close personal relationships and a perceived social stigma of admitting problems.

McGovern relives his guilt as a father through examining if his political ambitions were a major factor in his daughter's depression and despair. "This combination of duties involved constant travel that took me away from the family much of the time. It was an early introduction to the conflict between politics (work) and a normal family life. I was not sufficiently aware of this problem at the time." On numerous occasions during Terry's life as an alcoholic, George and Eleanor McGovern questioned whether they could save her without destroying the rest of the family. "Nor can I escape regret over the ways in which my political career and personal ego demands deprived Terry and my other children of time, attention, direction-and fun with their father."

This tragic and emotional tale, revealed candidly through the private thoughts of an American political icon, attempting to regain control, will undoubtedly emerge as a life-changing read. However, for all the sad moments in this book, poignant and powerful truths emerge which make TERRY a potent book. Read it not for business but for yourself. Buy two copies and give one to a friend