Howard Hughes (wearing hat) receives congratulations from Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at Floyd Bennett Airport in Brooklyn. The gentleman wearing a polka dot bow tie, standing behind the mayor is Grover Whalen. Mr. Whalen was president of the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Howard Hughes and his four companions honored at the National Press Club. Howard Hughes is speaking, with Mayor La Guardia and Secretary of State Cordell Hull at lower right. July 1938."