A quarter-century ago, two young aides to Senator DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN went to collect their boss at the Carlyle, the hotel where the Senator would stay when he was in New York City. As they approached his room, distinctive laughter could be heard: "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah." Peals of laughter, gales of it: "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah." With some trepidation, they knocked on the door. More laughter, and finally Moynihan appeared in robe and underwear--and behind him, Jackie Gleason playing the working-class hero-bozo Ralph Cramden in The Honeymooners on television. "It's an important part of American culture," the somewhat embarrassed Senator insisted. It was also part of...
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