David Skorton, Cornell University's highly regarded president, is to lead the Smithsonian

ITHACA, N.Y. -- President Skorton sounded too fussy. Mr. Skorton sounded too formal. David sounded too familiar. But they needed some way to refer to him, these employees who became friends. Some way to transmit that he was the boss, but kind of their buddy, but really the boss, but really their buddy. They settled on "The David."