Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes Guest at National Press Club. Washington, D. C. -- Howard Hughes, multi-millionaire round-the-world flyer is pictured as he spoke at the National Press Club here, July 21st, where he and his four companions were guests at a luncheon of the club. Hughes and the members of his crew on the flight visited Washington to personally thank Secretary of State Cordell Hull for his assistance in the clearing of their plane. Credit Line (ACME) 7/21/38."
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.