Right or Wrong

Right or Wrong is the much-anticipated memoir of Tim Bell, chairman of Bell Pottinger public relations and one of the best-known figures in UK media communications. Born into a resolutely middle-class suburban family during the war, he left school whilst still a teenager for a job as post-boy at ABC Television. Rising through the ranks of the burgeoning West End advertising industry, in 1970 he became a cofounder of the Saatchi & Saatchi agency, duly taking on the role of international chairman as the company achieved worldwide preeminence. In 1989, he formed the Chime Communications Company. Bell's main claim to fame, however, was developing campaigns for the Conservative Party during the general elections of 1979, 1983, and 1987, each of which put Margaret Thatcher into Downing Street, and for which he was awarded a knighthood. In his time, he has worked with some of the greatest names of modern politics, business, and media--such as Ronald Reagan, F. W. de Klerk, the Sultan of Brunei, Rupert Murdoch, and David Frost--and on world events, historical and controversial alike. Today, his clients include the chairmen of many of the UK's leading companies and organizations as well as foreign heads of state, politicians, and businesses. With critical appreciation of former clients the Saatchi brothers, as well as Ronald Reagan and Nelson Mandela, Right or Wrong is an enlightening account of an intriguing, unique, and influential career.

Tim Bell is a British advertising and public relations executive and founder of Bell Pottinger, one of the most celebrated PR agencies in the United Kingdom.

Prologue: In the Cathedral 1 Early Starter 2 Advertising 3 Brothers 4 Golden Era 5 The Calling 6 Iron Lady 7 Power 8 Going Further 9 Enemies Without, Enemies Within 10 Unsettled 11 Matters Arising 12 That Bloody Woman 13 Ambivalence 14 Major Difficulties 15 African Adventurers 16 We're All Right 17 Old and New 18 Demons 19 Big People 20 How Great Thou Art Epilogue: In the Abbey Editors' Note Sources and Bibliography Index