[1][2] After his time as ambassador, Bell worked as a Foreign Policy Advisor at the United States Strike Command (STRICOM) in Florida.

While working in Pakistan, Bell hosted Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy at his home.

Just 15 months later, he was promoted to Deputy for Foreign Aid Coordination which worked directly under the President and not the Secretary of State.

In 1961 President John F. Kennedy abolished the ICA and transferred all of its functions to the newly created United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Thus, the Kennedy administration supported a Guatemalan military coup in 1963 to overthrow Ydígoras and prevent the election of Arévalo, an action which Bell insisted upon.

[9][10][11] Enrique Peralta Azurdia, the general who replaced Ydígoras after the coup, immediately repressed opposition to his regime, voided the constitution, and shut down congress.

Bell remained optimistic, however, and believed Peralta intended to make a one-party system modeled after the Mexican government.

In response, Bell wrote I must express my dismay and irritation at Dept's reaction every time raw report is received suggesting terrorist action.

[2] In 1988, Bell was interviewed by Arthur L. Lowrie for the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training about his career in the Foreign Service.