This Week in National Press Club History: "I'm the space guy," Kelly says

July 1, 1985: After a month of sometimes spirited negotiations between officials of the Washington Press Club and the National Press Club, the two organizations merge.

July 1, 2011: Astronaut Mark Kelly, commander of the last flight of the space shuttle Endeavor, says he’s a little sad as Atlantis takes off on its final mission, but insists at a Club luncheon that “NASA will open a new and exciting chapter” in space exploration. He says he will not run to replace his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., in Congress as she continues to recover. “I’m the space guy," he says. Giffords “is the politician in the family.”

July 7, 1983: Harry Belafonte, popular singer and social activist, speaks about human rights in the developing world at a Club luncheon, and returns on December 8, 2003 at a newsmaker event.

This Week In National Press Club History is brought to you by the History and Heritage Committee, which preserves and revitalizes the Club’s 100-year history through displays, events, panel discussions and its oral history project.

For more information on the committee’s activities, or to join the committee, contact former NPC President Gilbert Klein at [email protected]