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CHAPTER X

BULGE

WITH THE WAR OVER and the Nation once more free to pursue once again the ambitious goals of expansion, the Club, like the returning servicemen, was not content to settle back into a pre-war way of life. Expansion, growth, increase, improvement was the rule in the Club as it was all over America. In the years between 1946 and 1958 that "bulge" has affected every aspect of the Club, from the membership rolls to physical facilities, from news coverage to dues, from Club parties to Club influence. Unlike the period following World War I, this time Washington was growing in importance with every passing day.

In Paul Wooton's administration 1946, there occurred what might be regarded as an epochal event; assuredly one so far as women's relations with the club are concerned. Due to the urgency of Paul McGee, then a member of the Board of Governors, it was decided to recondition the section of the Club's quarters which was to become the East Lounge. It had been used for the most part as a lumber room where broken down furniture and other property was relegated. Occasionally, an edge of the space was arranged for a special reception room for distinguished guests.

Elaborate redecorating was done, dining room furniture installed; a bar and an auxiliary kitchen were placed just off the auditorium. Since the Club had moved into the new building, there had been a ladies' dining room, sometimes known as the Green Room and known in memory as the old Ladies Dining Room, the "old" originally modifying dining room rather than ladies.

An opening date had been set for the new venture. The Club held a contest to name the room, receiving such suggestions as The Mare's Nest, The Arena, The Boudoir and so on, but the simple geographical designation of East Lounge was adopted. Now aforetime the Board had granted guest cards to women reporters, members of the Women's National Press Club, and the like. At the set hour, a queue formed for the opening and these guests of the Club came pouring in, as to a bargain sale!

But it developed that there had been a misunderstanding. Men; that is to say, members, also came in to have lunch. Some resentment was expressed by the women who had believed that the room was to be theirs exclusively. The Board was crestfallen at this reception of its gesture and came near closing the whole place. It did revoke many guest cards. The valiant efforts of Paul McGee saved the East Lounge, now regarded as one of the more desirable regions of the Club.

During 1947 Warren B. Francis of the Los Angeles Times served as President. Mr. Francis spent much lime traveling with the President of the United States and on other missions, but, his administration did a thorough task of reconditioning the kitchen equipment, reorganizing the Club staff, refurbishing the Club furnishings and draperies, painting the auditorium and otherwise greatly improving the physical aspect of the Club quarters.

He was also called upon to exercise his tact in calming the spirits of newspaper women whose resentment over the East Lounge episode lingered into his term of office. There is a legend that when one cajoling woman reporter accosted Mr. Francis and asked how she could regain admittance to the East Lounge, he replied: "Marry a newspaperman."

For 1948 Joseph H. Short, jr. of the Baltimore Sun was elected President. This was a period of great strain in Washington. The war was over but all the ills that followed in its train plagued the world and especially Washington. Washington and the Club became increasing the news clearing house of the world. The weekly news magazines, newsletters, the wire services, radio and burgeoning television were placing more and more men at the Capital. The 1948 Presidential upset returned Mr. Truman to the White House. Problems of news coverage multiplied.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower bade a temporary farewell to the Washington news corps at the Club on February 5, 1948. In his luncheon address he announced his retirement as Army Chief of Staff to become president of Columbia University. He is shown here signing the Gold Book, with the new Chief of Staff, Gen. Omar Bradley, and Club President Joe Short.

Mr. Short, among his other achievements, set on foot the publication of the Club's book, "Dateline: Washington", the story of national affairs journalism. Late in 1950 he was appointed Press Secretary to President Truman, shortly after the death of Charley Ross, the President's Press Secretary since 1945. Mr. Short died in 1952.

John C. O'Brien of the Philadelphia Inquirer became President for 1949. The old Ladies Dining Room abutted upon the taproom, shouldering its space, so with the East Lounge open, Mr. O'Brien determined to effect a thorough renovation. Employing competent architects, he reconstructed the entire west side of the Club quarters. The small ladies' waiting room with its windows overlooking the Potomac and the National Airport was created, and then a greatly enlarged and wholly rebuilt taproom came into being. Its woodcarving takes its motifs from the Club great seal, with Capitol dome, wise owl, lamp of learning, book and quill are all given separate panelled treatment. In addition to the long bar the room contains tables in alcoves and every facility of comfort.

Since the foundation of the Club, the bar had been utterly sacrosanct so far as the entry of women was concerned. No woman ever had set foot therein. None will ever know what pressures bore upon Mr. O'Brien or, indeed, whether he thought that one indulgence would serve for all the future lifetime of the Club: whatever the cause he determined that at a gala opening of this splendid new apartment ladies might be admitted. It was an extraordinary occasion, an occasion in the Club to which the term unique can be applied!

Mr. O'Brien accomplished many other things including bringing out "Dateline: Washington," edited by Cabell Phillips of the New York Times which had been projected under Mr. Short's administration.

The Club's bartenders merit special mention. Their place is perhaps unusual among private club bartenders. Most of them serve long terms and become the personal friends of many members. No better story can be told of their interest in the members and their activities than that concerning Frank Judge, a bartender who, with some friends at his home, were watching a television panel show. When his wife observed that he must be acquainted with the nespapermen on the program, he replied: "Know them? Of course I know them. That one's a Scotch-and-soda, he's a gin rickey; next is a straight Bourbon and the next to him is an ale."

George Miller's story has been told elsewhere. Julius Reiners was the Club's first bartender and remained long in that capacity until his retirement. Harry Stouffer began as a bartender but became night manager, known for his growling geniality to thousands of newspapermen and their guests, until his retirement. Not all these who served relief shifts can be mentioned but Jack Madden, the head bartender; Frank Matera, (a sort of Voltaire, still active) Johnny Smith, "Buck" Middleton, Sam Dominic, the South Carolinian who waits impatiently for the South to rise again; Bennie Sienuta, a notable soccer player; "Dusty" Eakles who succeeded Big Harry Stauffer as night manager - each knows every member by sight and name and each can detect an interloper at many paces.

RESTAURANT PART OF THE TAPROOM where latest information, news, rumors, or just plain opinions are offered, and sometimes refused, during the mid-day meal. It is also a favorite rendezvous for off-duty members, early coffee breaks, as well as a place to eat for those on the night side when so many downtown restaurants are closed. While the Club is never closed, the bar is subject to the local A. B. C. regulations.

The Club's staff numbers well over a hundred, many like Monroe Russell and John Sherley of long years' service. John Ellis, in addition to having been many years a captain of waiters, also has made his mark in golf tournaments. Ivanhoe Wills, Wilbur Stringfield, Landon Smith, Arthur Hill and Al Horton, all waiter captains, know the members and their individual wants and idosyncrasies.

Radford Mobley of the Knight newspapers, who had come from Alabama as a reporter, became President for 1950. He, too, brought improvements to the Club and presided over meetings of ever increasing importance. He was the last president of the Club to wear a derby hat!

With what might be regarded as a literary membership, the Club has built up a fine working library. Architecturally the library is one of the finest rooms in the Club with its perfectly designed and proportioned fireplace. Successive Library Committees have accumulated an excellent store of books some of rare distinction. Principal periodicals, foreign and domestic, are available to members. Conway S. Walker is librarian.

Upon a wall of the library is the original tally sheet in the United States Senate on a vote to admit Samuel H. Smith of the National Intelligencer, marking the founding of the Capital Press Galleries. The motion carried 16 to 12 but Mr. Smith was required to give bond for good behavior.

The men operating the specialized business news organizations were among the skillful reporters and editors in Washington, but conservative correspondents of an older school were inclined to regard them somewhat as step-children of the press. It is true that Paul Wooton had led a successful move to get a periodical press gallery opened at the Capitol and that Fulton Lewis, Jr., and others performed similar legerdemain with a radio gallery. But that was a professional matter; membership in active status in the National Press Club presented another issue.

Finally in 1948, enough of the radio and television forces within the Club gathered at the annual meeting to carry an amendment which would admit men who gathered and broadcast radio/TV news (not mere announcers) to active membership. Ten years later, at the annual meeting in 1958, a similar amendment admitted the newsletter writers to active status.

Since 1927 the Club constitution has given definite active membership to news photographers, although no very large number of the profession have taken advantage of the privilege. As a gatherer of visual news, the press photographer, like his predecessor, the pen and ink or pencil sketch artist, long has played an important part in the newspaper field, and has had to fight his way to recognition.

In Washington, the White House has been perhaps the most difficult assignment, a long warfare having been carried on between Presidents who did not want anything but posed photographs and the news photographers. Once when cameramen had followed Woodrow Wilson to a golf course in the hope of taking informal pictures, Dick Jervis, of the Secret Service, knowing the President's mind said they could not take pictures but told them that a tool shed near the course had knot-holes in its walls through which the course could be secretly spied upon. The photographers crowded into the shed whereupon the Secret Service locked them in until the game was played and the President gone. There were no knot-holes!

The struggle continued until June 13, 1921 when the White House News Photographers Association was organized. Warren G. Harding, who had become President the previous March 4 gave them full recognition and ready access to himself and the White House. Since then the news photographers have played an increasingly important part in all Washington news coverage.

Andrew J. "Buck" May, long-time chief of Harris & Ewing newsphoto service, one of the organizers of the Association, has served four terms as president. He is the only member to hold that distinction.

Carson F. Lyman from Lacrosse, Wisconsin, was elected President in 1951, the first "magazine man" to head the organization. Managing editor of U. S. News and World Report, he came to the Capital in 1933 on the Associated Press, after covering the State Legislature in Madison.

BISHOP'S ROUNDTABLE: Some of the Roundtable oldtimers who gathered at the Club to honor H. O. Bishop, the table's mentor, on March 18, 1953. Seated from left: Oswald F. Schuette, Howard B. Blanchard, Hon. Marvin Jones, W. M. Kiplinger, Herbert Corey, Junius B. Wood, John T. Parkerson, Carl H. Butman, Homer J. Dodge, Edward F. Colladay, Fred A. Emery, Franklin L. Fisher. Standing: Don O'Hara, P. D. McLean, Russell McFarland, Vincent P. Ahearn, T. N. Sandifer, Diosdado M. Yap.

Other regulars who came too late for the picture: John W. Townsend, Bill MacCracken, George L. Hart, Jr., Carter Field, John B. Gordon, Pyke W. Jones, Herbert Bratter, Courtland D. Ferguson, McLellan Smith, Joe Miller, Paul M. Hawkins.

Truman Felt, for many years chief Washington correspondent for the St. Louis Star-Times, took over the helm in 1952. Mr. Felt's newspaper had fallen victim to the pressures of competition. When he took office as president he was representing the Miami Daily News. Coincidentally, his term concluded at approximately the same time as that of another President named Truman. Then, in 1953, came a triumph of the radio reporters when Theodore F. Koop, Director of News and Public Affairs for CBS, became president of the Club, bringing to the position a new stage presence, along with suave and competent executive ability. Club presidents, in each administration, seemed to advance the art of introducing distinguished speakers to an even higher pitch. Mr. Koop was outstanding in this respect.

During the Koop administration, the contract for airconditioning the main dining room, lounge, and auditorium was let. Mr. Koop's personal project, a Thursday evening Roast Beef Buffet, was inaugurated. Publication of "The Press Club Record" was put on a bi-monthly schedule. On Saturday, December 5, 1953, the first annual art show was held. This is a show at which members and members of their families exhibit original works. John Koepf, Martin Dietz, Carey Cronan and others of a special committee each year have done tedious work in arranging the exhibits. Members have been somewhat surprised to discover unsuspected talents in their fellows. About one hundred and fifty paintings, drawings and examples of sculpture are shown each year. There is no hanging committee and no prizes are awarded.

Everett Watkins and Homer J. Dodge discuss a current news situation with historical mementos in background. The totem relic came from Alaska, a present to the correspondents who accompanied President Harding on the Alaskan trip. It represents a human figure with part of a noose around its neck. The limbs are formed by natural growth of cedar. The figure stands by the fireplace in the Main Lounge with other mementos such as costly rugs and vases. One is seen in the shape of a medallion handing over the center panel, a gift from the London Press Club. The small pieces of bomb-shattered stained glass came from the original British House of Commons which was a Norman chapel built by King Stephen, 1584.

The Club's permanent collection has been accumulated over the years. The painting most consistently admired is "Phryne," an immense oil of the Athenian courtesan in the nude, painted in 1908 by Antonio Parreiras, a Brazilian working in Paris. It was first lent to the Club by Dr. Manoel de Oliveira Lima, Brazilian Ambassador to the United Stales. Transferred to London, Dr. Oliveira died there and, subsequently, his widow gave the painting to the Club. "Heather in Bloom," the other large canvas hanging in the main lounge is the work of Didier-Pouget, a French artist of the last century. It hung in the Corcoran Gallery of Art and later was given to the Club by Miss Hegeman or Pittsburgh. In the main dining room hangs yet another huge oil, the "Fisherman on Beach" by Charles Gosselin. Mrs. Woodbury Blair presented the work to the Club. In the lobby hangs "On The Thames," a large oil of shipping painted by Eugene Vail in 1886 and presented to the Club by Mrs. Eugene Vail of Providence.

These works which had been at the Paris Salon and elsewhere were obtained through the good offices of Frederic J. Haskin and James North of the Arts Committee who made the necessary arrangements with the donors. Of substantial value, they are heavily insured. Many other paintings are owned by the Club as well as a large collection off original newspaper cartoons.

Ernest B. (Tony) Vaccaro of the Associated Press was elected to serve in 1954. A confidant of President Truman, he was sworn into office by Vice President Richard Nixon. A speaker with a Southern background of quick wit and graceful courtesy, Mr. Vaccaro moved into the presidency unopposed. The previous year he had won the vice-presidency in an ex- citing three-way contest, defeating two opponents, Nicholas P. Gregory of the Philadelphia Inquirer and James E. Warner of the New York Herald- Tribune, each of whom received a large vote.

His term as President held no major problems for tax until near its close: The election to membership of Louis R. Lautier, Negro correspondent of the Atlanta Daily World and the Negro Press Association. Under Club rules membership proposals, after approval of the Membership Committee and the Board must be posted for a required number of days. Challenges are rare. It is true that in 1928 Benito Mussolini had been proposed for membership and that his posting aroused such a storm that the successor of the Caesars had to be notified he was not acceptable.

As Washington is well below the Mason-Dixon Line, it was inevitable that the issue should grow to startling proportions. True, almost every race in the world has at one time or another been represented on the Club rolls, through the associate membership of embassy attaches, for example. But Mr. Lautier was the first Negro candidate for active membership. The Board itself was reluctant to decide the question out of hand.

FIRST ARCHIVIST OF NPC: Homer Joseph Dodge quickly settled the "mat" problem in 1955 by appointing a committee. He's shown here studying the truly fabulous Gold Book which contains autographs of famous personages from the latter part of the 19th Century through first half of the 20th.

It was determined to conduct a referendum of the membership an action never taken before on such a question. February 4, 1955 was the date set and it was decided to conduct the vote precisely in accordance with the rules governing election of officers. The polls closed at 8:00 o'clock and about 10:00 o'clock the election board reported that Mr. Lautier had been approved as a member. On the basis of this referendum, the Board on February 7 declared him elected to active membership.

For 1955, Lucian C. Warren of the Buffalo Courier-Express was elected president unopposed, and was sworn into office by namesake Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the United States. What the Chief Justice said inaugural night January 29, is worth repeating:

"May I say to you that this is a great breed - these newspaper people of America. They are the greatest friends that the public has - the greatest friends that people in office or out of office ever had. They are not public officials, but they are public servants. While they do not have a public position, they do have public responsibilities just as great as any man who holds public office and they discharge them with equal fidelity."

CONGRESSIONAL NIGHT HARMONY with Vice President Richard Nixon supplying the piano music, joined in community singing by Texas Democrats Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and Speaker Sam Rayburn, with songwriter Arthur Schwartz and Club President Lu Warren on April 27, 1955. Club member Nixon opened the show's finale, wearing glasses, playing the "Missouri Waltz."

Mr. Warren's administration was notable for a number of events. Perhaps the greatest experiment was the first "Family Frolics." For years the Club had arranged outings for members and male guests. There had been special days at Charles Town races voyages, down the Potomac, days at the Quantico Marine Base and elsewhere, events of great jollity and adventure. Mr. Warren arranged to take over a section of Rock Creek Park, adjacent to the Carter Barron Amphitheatre (named for the late member and former Loew's Inc., theaters executive). He rallied an enthusiastic committee of such workers as Chairman Stephen Walter, Edward Kelly, Gilbert Sandefer, John Cosgrove, Joseph Davidson, Donald Burke and a host of others. The day was an immense success and the Frolic has become an annual institution with Dr. Diosdado M. Yap acting as a sort of County Fair photographer.

Mr. Warren also created a Committee on Archives, appointing Homer Joseph Dodge as chairman. This committee was named in an effort to resolve a long-drawn controversy over the policy governing the newspaper matrices used interestingly as panels in the Club quarters. Most of the mats were dated 1927, the year the Club moved into the building. The issue arose as to whether these should be supplanted as outmoded by newer mats. Two schools of thought and action debated, sometimes hotly, the question of whether these time-honored and irreplaceable exhibits of a quarter century ago should be retained or supplanted. Mr. Warren named such notable figures as Vice Admiral Leland Lovette, Bruce Catton, the historian; Lincoln White of the State Department, Cabell Phillips, J . Lacey Reynolds, E. E. Wilcox and others to this committee which decided to preserve the older mats, and gave the House Committee the worrying task of finding new space for new mats.

THREE GENERATIONS VOTE: On December 14, 1956 the Club election brought out three generations of Grosvenors. Standing left to right, and marking their ballots are Dr. Gilbert Grosvenor, his son Dr. Melville Bell Grosvenor, and his grandson Gilbert Melville Grosvenor, all active members from the National Geographic Magazine. Standing by is Club President Frank Holeman. Seated are members of the Election Committee headed by the veteran chairman, Paul J. McGahan of the Philadelphia Inquirer, flanked by Joseph E. Wills, left, and Don Womack, right of the Senate Press Gallery. "Doc" Yap is standing at end of table.

Frank Holeman of the New York Daily News succeeded to the presidency for 1956. One of the youngest (36) and tallest (6' 7") members ever to hold that office was sworn into office by Chief Justice Warren. He had covered the White House since the Truman Administration, made many Presidential trips, and his wide acquaintance and ready wit equipped him to perform his duties, especially as a presiding officer, with notable aplomb.

Looking to the Club's fiftieth anniversary, Mr. Holeman appointed John C. O'Brien chairman of a special committee to prepare observances to mark that milestone.

Many Club presidents have sought to leave physical monuments to their administrations in the form of improvements such as the East Lounge in Paul Wooton's times, John O'Brien's new taproom, and the like.

In "Tony" Vaccaro's administration the auditorium airconditioning was completed. Former President Truman was the speaker at the first cooled luncheon on May 5, 1954.

Ben J. Grant, assistant executive editor of U. S. News & World Report, succeeded to the presidency in 1957, without opposition. A native of Dothan, Ala., who joined the Associated Press in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1935, Mr. Grant learned Club politics from his one-time roommate and mentor, former President Joe Short. During his year the ballroom, virtually unchanged in 30 years, was redecorated from floor to ceiling. The room officially re-opened with a "New Look" party on September 20. The First Annual President's Ball was hold on November 22. It was a black-tie affair chairmaned by Sam Stavisky, with entertainment by Broadcast Music Inc., featuring Sam Levenson, Betty Johnson, Eddy Arnold, Les Paul and Mary Ford.

The "new" ballroom was a thing of beauty on the night of President Grant's First Annual President's Ball. This black and white photo does not attempt to do justice to the classic white, gold and blue decorations.

The corridors, main lounge, main dining room and ballroom of the Club never are more beautiful than when they are decorated by the young daughters of members. Two such events are held each year, one for daughters twelve and over, the other for those under 12. Proof of the natural beauty on display on these occasions is evidenced in this photograph. At this 1955 "Father-Daughter Night" Vice President Nixon had intended to bring this two daughters but they were ill and could not attend. He holds on his lap Donna Larrabee, daughter of Donald R. Larrabee of Griffin News Bureau.

NPC shrdlu | Previous: Chapter IX - World War II | Next: Chapter XI - Jubilee