“Danny Kaye Goes Before U.S. Supreme Court”
St. Petersburg Times – Sep. 11, 1962
Danny returning Mrs. Warren's shoes after she compared her height to that of the
13-
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court, played host to Danny Kaye yesterday, and the entertainer promised to come back right soon and clean up the clutter on Chief Justice Earl Warren’s desk.
After a luncheon in the justice’s private dining room, Warren personally conducted Kaye on a tour of the court. Bowing Kaye into his private chambers, Warren implored the guest not to think too hard of him because the desk was stacked with great piles of papers.
Dutifully, Kaye turned his back on the desk and said:
“It’s a tidy, beautifully appointed office.”
Then he said:
“I’ll come back and clean up your desk.”
“Bring a box of matches,” Warren suggested, which could result in a conflagration that might change the course of history.
Mrs. Bryon R. White, wife of the justice whose nickname is “Whizzer,” gave the party to promote an Oct. 19 benefit concert of the National Symphony Orchestra, which Kaye will conduct.
Kaye, who confesses he can’t read a note of music, has earned quite a reputation for conducting symphony orchestras, from Boston to Los Angeles. It is reported, however, that several oboe players will never be the same. The strain of trying to blow and trying not to laugh is too great.
Kaye, a busy man, arrived from Hollywood by way of New York with very little sleep, and looked it. It is true his inexpensive cloth hat was set squarely on his head, but his expensive high shoes were untied.
He and Mrs. Warren, being old friends, kissed. Then he had to superintend while Mrs.
Warren measured her height against that of Nancy Brennan, 13-
Mrs. Warren took off her shoes when she compared heights with Nancy. Entertainer Kaye obligingly returned them to her.
Nancy had grown during the recess and Mrs. Warren wanted to see who is taller now. (Nancy is.)
Nancy, a Kaye fan, curtsied to him and he returned the salute. Kaye consulted with
her about the braces on her teeth and assured her he never yet met a 13-
In the august high court building, Kaye gave a lecture on how to make friends with children of any age. If it’s a child in the cradle, you’ve got to forget your adult inhibitions. You’re supposed to talk softly, make idiotic faces and idiotic sounds. Then you’ve made a friend for life.