Back in 1961 when the Bronx Zoo and all of its facilities were subjected to this AFSCME strike, there was no place to turn, we were by ourselves. There were other institutions in the city of New York who watched with bated breath because most of them had the same union. Some of them however, already had contracts, But our position was unique. Not long after the strike, when it was all closed down, Fairfield Osborn came to me again and asked me to be director. I was not at all sure I wanted to be director. My interest was wild animals, not dealing with labor unions, and not dealing with the problems of politics and fundraising and so on and so forth that zoo directors have to make so much of their work. But I decided to do so. I remember a wonderful exchange with Dr. Osborn.
