In the Blackstone Talk Clarence covers each of the steps in order and talks about the 12 Step Program in general. For Clarence AA is a 12 Step Program, and he makes clear that means all of them. Clarence even says in effect, you don't get to pick and choose. This is medicine, take it as prescribed. Because Clarence got sober in the period when the Big Book was written and published his perspective on the 12 steps is valuable. Clarence Snyder was responsible for the Cleveland growth spurt in early Alcoholics Anonymous history. Clarence had his last drink on February 11, 1938, according to the article he wrote for the A.A. Grapevine November 1968 issue. Fifteen months later he organized the first Cleveland group. He became an enthusiastic 12th stepper, literally dragging prospects for A.A. off bar stools. Unfortunately, Clarence had an abrasive personality, and as one of his friends said, you either loved him or hated him. According to Nell Wing, had he not been so abrasive he probably would have been considered a co-founder of A.A.