National Press Club Book Fair

I've always wanted to walk inside the hallowed halls of the National Press Club in downtown D.C., and yesterday I finally did so.   On a freezing cold night, they let the riff-raff mingle with the Fourth Estate for their annual Book Fair.    There were 80 authors scheduled and it looked like that many were there.    Justice Scalia drew the longest line.  Roger Mudd was also popular.   

I spoke briefly with Mark Stein author of How the States Got Their Shapes.  We talked about Maryland's odd shape and he said that was the reason he got interested in the subject.   I was tempted to buy his book but didn't.  (I always feel guilty when I talk to an author but walk away and don't buy their book).

I also got to speak with Paul Dickson, who I know through SABR.  Paul lives in the area and has written over 50 books, including several on baseball.   He actually had two of his books on the table, Baseball's Greatest Quotations and On this Spot, Pinpointing the Past in Washington D.C. (2008, Third Edition).  

I purchased the latter.   As a lover of "what used to be there," I am thoroughly enjoying it.   I started with Pennsylvania Avenue since it might come up in the coming weeks...   There was a cluster of buildings at the west end of the Capitol near what is now the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art.    At 339 Pennsylvania Avenue NW stood Jackson Hall.  It was home to the Congressional Globe, which later became the Congressional Record.   The Washington Post was here, as well as meeting halls for Democratic Party functions. 

Dickson and co-author Douglas E. Evelyn also write about historic events that took place at places like the Lincoln Memorial.   On Easter Sunday 1939, African American Marian Anderson sang from the steps in front of 75,000 people.   Anderson had wanted to sing at DAR Constitution Hall but the Daughters of the American Revolution denied her request, citing the fact that only white performers were allowed to do so.  Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes gave permission for the Lincoln Memorial to be used.  Thousands of DAR members, as well as Eleanor Roosevelt resigned.   The incident brought about awareness on discrimination.

If you're in to such things, this is a great book.  I think I'll return to 14th and F next year...