“She’s a pit bull. When she wants you to do something, she’s...

“She’s a pit bull. When she wants you to do something, she’s not going to let go until you do it: ‘Comb your hair. Shine your shoes. Change your pants. Wash your hair. Sit up straight.’ Been that way since we were kids. But she kept us out of trouble. The neighborhood we grew up in was like West Side Story without the singing and dancing, so she kept us all in line. My father was General MacArthur’s personal cook and valet. He used to tell us: ‘Nobody likes the general. But everyone respects him.’”