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Had you known La Guardia?

Yes. Lela knew him better. We didn't want to have any big church wedding. In the first place, we're different religions; and, in the second place, neither of us wanted all that fuss. Phyllis‘mother was out in Oklahoma City and was never too close to her. Lela was really her mother, and Lela was more or less in charge. I don't remember who thought of having La Guardia perform the ceremony, but it probably was Lela. Present were just my father who...

Did your father like...?

Pop and Ross, of course, and Ginger and Anne Shirley... That was about the whole wedding...and my Uncle Herbert, who was a great influence on my life, and whom I worshipped.

Phyllis always denies the details of this story, but I swear they're true. We've told it so often that I'm going to tell you the story the way that I remember it although Phyllis will tell you that I exaggerate terribly. Ross did come marching into that building with an old rusty gun over his shoulder announcing, “Your honor, Mr. Mayor, this bastard met this darling little girl in my house and I'm here to see that he does right by her.” La Guardia's reply was, “How did you get in here with that gun?" He started yelling at the policemen, “How did you let this bum in here with this gun?" There was great excitement and laughter. Phyllis burst into tears and