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The Unlikely 60-Year Friendship of 2 Preeminent US Diplomats

Natalie Liu

   WASHINGTON - Students from widely different cultures who became
   influential Americans shared a deep love for family, sports and foreign
   policy over 60 years of friendship.

   The friendship between Winston Lord, who was born to wealth and
   privilege, and Leslie Gelb, who was not, started when Lord's wife and
   Gelb were students at Tufts University in Massachusetts. It ended in
   August when Gelb died.

   "We go back 60 years. He was quite a man," said Winston Lord recently,
   reflecting on Gelb, who passed away at 82 in August. "He was my best
   friend."

   "They collaborated on a history project, both procrastinated and put
   off until the last minute, and they had to scramble," said Lord of Gelb
   and his wife, Bette Bao Lord. "Of course they got an A."

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