uler ▁and ▁Iran ▁Most ▁important ▁for ▁his ▁effect iveness ▁would ▁be ▁to ▁establish ▁a ▁good ▁working ▁relationship ▁with ▁the ▁r uler . ▁All ▁the ▁while , ▁the ▁sh ah ' s ▁terminal ▁ill ness ▁of ▁pro state ▁cancer ▁remained ▁a ▁well - ke pt ▁secret ▁from ▁everyone . Mil ani , ▁The ▁Shah ▁( 2 0 0 8 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 ) ▁pp . ▁ 3 7 0 – 3 7 1 . ▁Of ▁sympt oms ▁discovered ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁the ▁sh ah ' s ▁fatal ▁cancer ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁was ▁confirmed , ▁and ▁kept ▁secret . ▁Hel ms ▁found ▁himself ▁satisfied ▁with ▁his ▁" as ▁much ▁as ▁might ▁be ▁asked ▁for " ▁deal ings ▁with ▁the ▁Shah . ▁The ▁monarch ▁was ▁not orious ▁for ▁an ▁" I ▁speak , ▁you ▁listen " ▁approach ▁to ▁dialog ue . ▁Yet ▁Hel ms ▁describes ▁l ively ▁convers ations ▁with ▁" pol ite ▁give - and - take " ▁in ▁which ▁the ▁sh ah ▁never ▁forgot ▁his ▁maj esty ; ▁these ▁discuss ions ▁could ▁end ▁with ▁an ▁agreement ▁to ▁disag ree . ▁The ▁sh ah ▁allowed ▁that ▁they ▁by ▁happen st ance ▁might ▁meet ▁at ▁a ▁social ▁function ▁and ▁then ▁" t alk ▁shop ". ▁Usually ▁they ▁met ▁in ▁private ▁offices , ▁the ▁two ▁alone , ▁where ▁it ▁was ▁" t ête ▁à ▁tête ▁with ▁no ▁note - t akers ▁or ▁advis ors ." Sh aw cross , ▁The ▁Shah ' s ▁Last ▁R ide ▁(