Metropolitan Diary: Five Minutes With Mike Wallace With the recent passing of Mike Wallace, a story came to mind: Seven years ago, I was rushing to an appointment at Lenox Hill Hospital. I was in the lobby waiting for the elevator; standing next to me was Mike Wallace. When the elevator came, about eight people got on. My appointment was on a high floor, and, one by one, we stopped at each floor. Mr. Wallace was beside me. When we stopped at the fifth floor, Joan Rivers was waiting for an elevator down. She called out: "Hi, Mike! How is everything going? He replied: "Great, Joan. You look great. On the sixth floor, everyone except for Mr. Wallace and me got off. I turned to him and said, "Mr. Wallace, I have been watching you for years, and you're terrific!" He replied, "I have been watching you for the last five minutes and you're terrific!" Mine was the next stop. I thanked him and went on my way with a smile on my face.