The Gridiron Club, founded in 1885, is Washington's oldest and most prestigious journalistic organization. Its 65 active members represent major newspapers, news services, news magazines and broadcast networks. Since the days of Benjamin Harrison, it has entertained presidents and major figures from politics, the armed services, diplomacy, industry and the arts at its annual spring dinner.

The club's first musical director was John Philip Sousa, and its dinner traditionally features the U.S. Marine Band, along with satirical musical skits by the members and frank off-the-record remarks by the President and representatives of each political party.

As a historian wrote 87 years ago: "The club holds up the mirror to those who sit in the seats of the mighty and shows them, with a touch of humor and satire, that even in the national and international complications which surround them there is a lighter side..."