The National Press club was the ultimate boys club of male journalists who wanted to relax, unwind after a busy day of work, or help each other out with articles, leads, or sources. It was a place where men could be men, where they could drink beer and play darts or have a smoke. It was founded by two journalists who wanted a common space to work. They gathered up 30 other journalists who also wanted a place to work, and they found a floor of a building for an affordable price. The club grew and grew over the years to thousands of members. A lot of presidents and celebrities have stopped by the club and made announcements, speeches, or just appearances. Taft was the first president at the club and since then the club has been visited by Roosevelt, Wilson, Truman, Coolidge, Reagan, Carter, Bush, and Obama. George Clooney joined Obama on his visit to the club.
In 1971, women were allowed in the club. In 1919, Women had made their own press club and later merged with another club and became a rival to the National Press Club. However, in 1971, The National Press Club merged with the Woman’s National Press Club. To make sure there was enough room for all of the members that the NPC now housed, they needed to move to a larger location. The NPC built their own building where they have the club and several conference rooms that they rent out to people for special events.
The NPC isn’t just a place to relax and unwind with fellow journalists, it is also a place of community and support. A lot of journalists have turned to the National Press Club to network and make connections for career advancement. Some journalists come to get sources or story ideas. The NPC is a great place to gain new information or stories before anyone else does because a lot of announcements are made there. One example of this is when a former president announced his campaign for presidency at the club. The National Press Club is a really great organization that works to support and inspire young and blossoming journalists.
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