Hoynes' Private AA Meeting (Downstairs Office, Old Executive Office Building)

A clandestine, recurring, all-male Alcoholics Anonymous gathering hosted by Vice President Hoynes in the downstairs office of the Old Executive Office Building. The nine-member circle—three senators, two cabinet secretaries, one federal judge, and two agency directors—functions as both a confidential recovery space and an informal political network. Meetings operate under strict security and anonymity, providing personal lifelines while enabling Hoynes to broker votes, shield reputations, and exert private influence within the executive and legislative spheres.