How about this description in his own words of his hiring by ABC news director Al Primo:
"By the way," he [Primo]said, shaking on our new relationship, "what's Gerry short for?"
"Gerald."
"Gerald?" he tried. "It's not very Puerto Rican, is it?"
"No," I said. "I guess not, but it's better than Sidney."
"Sidney?"
"That's what my Jewish mother wanted to call me."
He laughed politely at the exchange, but his smile seemed forced. I sensed he was disappointed. After all, he was going to some trouble to hire a Puerto Rican reporter; surely, he wanted to at least get his money's worth.
"If you want something more Latin," I suggested, "my father and his side of the family call me Geraldo."
"Geraldo?" he said, and this time his smile was genuine. "Geraldo Rivera." He tested the sound, rolling the Rs and learning what millions were about to, that the G in Spanish is pronounced H. "That's better," he said finally. "Let's go with Geraldo."
That sounds like being a chameleon to fit the market.