Conrad had gotten his ambassadorship by being a big bundler and raising a lot of money for the previous president. He reminded Harvath of Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia. In addition to being a thorough Arabist who thought he knew the region better than anyone else-along with what America's foreign policy absolutely should be-his hair was too blond, his teeth were too white, and his skin was too tan for a man of his age and stature. Harvath chalked a certain amount of that up to his parents' having named their male child Leslie.
Conrad secured his position as ambassador by being a significant fundraiser for the former president, which left an impression on Harvath. He likened Conrad to Peter O'Toole's character in "Lawrence of Arabia," noting his deep knowledge of Arab culture and his strong opinions on U.S. foreign policy. However, some of his traits, such as his overly blond hair, unnaturally white teeth, and excessive tan, made him seem out of place, especially for someone of his age and experience.
Harvath speculated that some of these quirks might be linked to Conrad's unusual name, suggesting that it may have influenced his persona. This description paints a picture of an ambassador who, despite his qualifications and expertise, carries a certain superficiality that raises questions about his true understanding of the region he represents.
