[2] While there, he met and befriended current President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, Leslie H. Gelb, then a fellow instructor.

In 1967, Gelb left to work as a policy adviser at the Pentagon, persuading Bartholomew to join him the following year.

[3] Prior to his first ambassadorship, Bartholomew spent 15 years advising presidents and secretaries of state, most notably playing a key role in the SALT II arms limitation talks with the Soviet Union in 1979.

[3] Bartholomew was appointed ambassador to Spain in 1986, where he led negotiations to preserve a greatly reduced military presence.

[3] Upon retirement, he joined Merrill Lynch Investment Banking as Vice-chairman Europe and Chairman Italy (1997–2011).