Editing Spencer Tracy (section)

===Character===
Tracy was an avowed Catholic, but his cousin, Jane Feely, said that he did not devoutly follow the religion: "He was often not a practical Catholic either. I would call him a spiritual Catholic."<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 212.</ref> [[Garson Kanin]], a friend of Tracy's for 25 years, described him as "a true believer"<ref>Kanin (1971) p. 250.</ref> who respected his religion.<ref>Kanin (1971), p. 14. "To Spence, [life] was all—save his religion—a surpassing joke."</ref> At periods in his life, Tracy attended Mass regularly.<ref>Curtis (2011) pp. 32, 607; Kanin (1971) p. 166.</ref> Tracy did not believe actors should publicize their political views, but in 1940 lent his name to the "Hollywood for Roosevelt" committee<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 407. Kanin (1971), p. 64 also notes Tracy's admiration for Roosevelt.</ref> and personally identified as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 492 quotes Tracy's friend Lincoln Cromwell describing him as "a dedicated Democrat"; p. 837 quotes his daughter saying "He was a Democrat surrounded by Republicans [the rest of his family]".</ref>

Tracy struggled with alcoholism throughout his adult life,<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 702, quotes Tracy's daughter as saying: "[alcoholism] was something [my father] had to battle all his life."</ref> an ailment that ran in his father's side of the family.<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 34. Tracy's grandmother, father and uncle were all alcoholics.</ref> Rather than being a steady drinker, as commonly thought, he was prone to periods of binging on alcohol.<ref>Curtis (2011) pp. 348, 459, 683, 702, 718, 735.</ref> Loretta Young remarked that Tracy was "awful" when he was drunk,<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 232.</ref> and he was twice arrested for his behavior while intoxicated.<ref>Curtis (2011) pp. 213, 256.</ref> Because of this bad reaction to alcohol, Tracy regularly embarked on prolonged periods of sobriety and developed an all-or-nothing routine.<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 464.</ref> Myrna Loy said: "Days of drinking had left him belligerent."<ref>James Kotsilibas-Davis and Myrna Loy, ''Being and Becoming'', Knopf 1987, page 154</ref> Hepburn commented that he would stop drinking for "months, even years at a time" before falling off the wagon without warning.<ref name="all about me">"Katharine Hepburn: All About Me", Directed by David Healy, Top Hat Productions, [[Turner Network Television]], January 18, 1993. (Stated by Hepburn in this documentary.)</ref>

Tracy was prone to bouts of depression and anxiety: he was described by Mrs. Tracy as having "the most volatile disposition I've ever seen—up in the clouds one minute and down in the depths the next. And when he's low, he's very, very low."<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 181. For anxiety and hypochondria, see p. 463.</ref> He was plagued by [[insomnia]] throughout his life.<ref>Kanin (1971) p. 123; Curtis (2011) pp. 508, 662, 670, 727.</ref> As a result, Tracy became dependent on [[barbiturates]] to sleep, followed by [[dexedrine]] to function.<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 481.</ref> Hepburn, who adopted a nursing role towards Tracy,<ref>Kanin (1971) p. 182; Higham (2004) pp. 114, 198.</ref> was unable to understand her partner's unhappiness. She wrote in her autobiography: "What was it?&nbsp;... Never at peace&nbsp;... Tortured by some sort of guilt. Some terrible misery."<ref name="all about me"/><ref>Hepburn (1991) p. 399.</ref>