Charles Evans Hughes Hall dedicated in 1956

Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren and former New York Gov. Thomas Dewey were speakers on Nov. 19, 1956 at the dedication of the new Charles Evans Hughes Hall at the headquarters of The National Conference of Christians and Jews at 43 West 57th Street in New York City, the Jackson Advocate of Jackson, Mississippi reported on Nov. 24, 1956.

The hall cost $35,000 — the equivalent of about $327,000 in 2019 dollars — contributed by lawyers around the United States.

Otto E. Koegel, chief counsel of 20th Century Fox, was chairman of the fund-raising committee.

Hughes was a co-founder of the organization, established in 1927 to address anti-Roman Catholic sentiment as Al Smith sought the Democratic nomination for President.

Its mission was expanded to encompass all issues of social justice.

Presidents Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower are among recipients of the organization’s annual Charles Evans Hughes Medal.

In the 1990s the organization changed its name to the National Conference for Community and Justice.

Click here to read a previous post about Earl Warren speaking at 1965 dedication of Charles Evans Hughes Residence Center at Cornell University.