"I've come to believe in the old-fashioned view that one should be tender in one's dealings with colleagues, " Lord Layard told me in an interview.

FORBES: Money Doesn't Make People Happy

"The punch-up with Lord Rothermere was the best thing for me, " says Desmond.

FORBES: The World's Richest People

Rieder also wrote, "The Word of the Lord is Upon Me, " a book that revealed King's backstage discussions with friends and colleagues.

CNN: How MLK became an angry black man

For one thing, French sources tell me that President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had several run-ins with Lord Mandelson over trade opening proposals he made as EU trade commissioner, made it clear he would not support him.

ECONOMIST: European politics

And I will pledge myself in the traditional words to serve the Lord during the day with as much gladness and purpose as I possibly can, to work to improve the world around me.

CNN: Lieberman: 'A difficult but realistic decision'