Weld's unorthodox style was cast into sharprelief last summer, when President Clintonnominated Weld for the Mexican ambassadorship, anomination calculated to curry favor among Weld'sown moderate Republicans.

But the nomination came under fire from thepowerful chair of the Senate Foreign Relationscommittee, Jesse Helms (R-N.C.).

Helms asserted that Weld's liberal stance onmedicinal marijuana legislation would compromisehis authority in pursuing U.S. action in theso-called drug war in Mexico.

As chair of the committee, Helms blocked thenomination from the docket, despite Weld's thenfull-time lobbying on his own behalf.

This fighting spirit is what makes Weld anunconventional politician, and is what Mahonybelieves led seniors to vote for him as the ClassDay speaker.

"He has a different style. He has done battlewith Jesse Helms. He really is sort of in thetradition of Teddy Roosevelt, Class of 1880,Nelson Rockefeller, that wing of the Republicanparty," Mahony says. "And he's a maverick."

A Personal Network

Weld has a remarkable ability to setpriorities--both personal and political--and stickto them, according to Adams.

A few weeks ago, Adams says, Weld dined at hishouse with some of the family and a collegeroommate he hadn't seen in years.

"He was so taken by my niece [Nora], four yearsold, that five days later a beanie baby arrived inthe mail for [her]," Adams says. "He had it in hismind that this was something he wanted to do. [Hehas] a rich mind of capability and of character."

Weld makes sure to follow interests that givehim personal satisfaction. According to his wife,he has lately spent much of his free time writing.

He just finished his first book--a murdermystery called Mackerel By Moonlight--to bepublished in September. The Boston Globe reportsthat the mystery focuses on the life of aDemocratic politician in Massachusetts. Many ofthe characters and scenarios seem to be drawn fromWeld's own life.

The book includes scenes like the poker gamesMahony remembers from Weld's days as a Hill andBarlow associate.

"He had an apartment in the Back Bay and heused to invite us up there," Mahony says. "Wewould play poker with Bill and have a greatevening, a couple of drinks."

Friends say that Weld's personal manner is hismost effective political tool.