This Week In NPC History
September 14, 1993: Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, speaks at a National Press Club luncheon the day after he signs an historic peace agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in Washington. He calls for moral and economic support for Palestinians and a quick implementation of the agreement, and in 1994 receives the Nobel Peace Prize with Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres for that effort.
September 15, 1993: Celebrated Atlanta Braves right fielder Hank Aaron appears at a National Press Club luncheon. In 1974, Aaron had surpassed Babe Ruth’s career home run record of 714 in 1974.
September 15, 1994: Margaret Truman, the late president’s daughter, reminiscences about her father’s long public career and reports on plans for the renovation of the Truman Library and Museum. She recalls her mother’s displeasure over the Lauren Bacall incident, in which her father plays while the famous actress perches on top of the Club’s piano. Truman had been a long-time supporter of the National Press Club beginning with his election to the Senate in 1934.
September 16, 1959: Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev begins his national tour of the United States at a National Press Club luncheon. He demands that women reporters be admitted to the ballroom floor, and the event becomes a joint effort of the National Press Club, the Women’s National Press Club and the Overseas Press Club. 1.4 women are admitted for every ten men (thirty-three seats). He predicts that capitalism will be replaced by communism. “The new and progressive will win. The old and moribund will die.” Krushchev returns several weeks later for a press conference after his coast-to-coast tour. Thirty-two years later, the Soviet Union dissolves.
September 19, 1927: The Fox Theatre has its gala opening in the National Press Building. President Coolidge and many other notables from the worlds of the stage, finance and newspapers attend in full dress.
September 19, 2014: Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health, talks about the role of American corporations in reducing chronic illness and delivering better health outcomes for consumers. He mentions CVS’s decision to ban tobacco products and its plans to expand its health care services, such as retail walk-in medical clinics.
This Week In National Press Club History is sponsored by the History & Heritage Committee, which preserves and revitalizes the Club’s long history with lobby displays of prominent speakers, panel discussions, events and oral histories. For more information about the Committee’s activities or to join it, contact Chair Gilbert Klein at [email protected]