Martin Luther King Jr. appeals for racial, social justice at 1962 luncheon

This Week In National Press Club History

July 17, 2003: Former President Gerald R. Ford makes his 15th and last appearance at the Club for his foundation’s annual journalism awards luncheon, which recognizes outstanding coverage of the presidency and defense issues. Hugh Sidey of Time magazine described Ford as the only president he knew who genuinely liked reporters.

July 19, 1962: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gives a major policy statement for his Southern Christian Leadership Conference to a sold-out Club luncheon. "[The] Negro race must work passionately and unrelentingly for first-class citizenship, but must never use second-class methods to gain it," he said. "[T]he SCLC seeks to implement the just law by appealing to the conscience of the great decent majority.” King is scheduled to appear again at the Club on April 9, 1968, but rather is buried that day, following his assassination on April 4.

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

For information about the committee’s activities, or to join the Committee, contact Gilbert Klein at [email protected].

Compiled by Elizabeth Smith Brownstein with material from the Club’s archives and Reliable Sources: 100 Years at the National Press Club.