Allan Gotlieb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allan Gotlieb
CC OM
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Gotlieb in 1988
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| Canadian Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 1981–1989 |
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| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau John Turner Brian Mulroney |
| Preceded by | Peter Towe |
| Succeeded by | Derek Burney |
| Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs | |
| In office 1977–1981 |
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| Minister |
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| Preceded by | H. Basil Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Osbaldeston |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Allan Ezra Gotlieb
February 28, 1928 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | April 18, 2020 (aged 92) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Spouse |
Sondra Gotlieb
(m. 1955) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Allan Ezra Gotlieb (born February 28, 1928 – died April 18, 2020) was an important Canadian public servant. He was also an author. Mr. Gotlieb is best known for serving as the Canadian Ambassador to the United States. He held this important role from 1981 to 1989.
Contents
Allan Gotlieb's Early Life and Education
Allan Gotlieb was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He first studied at United College, which is now the University of Winnipeg. Later, he moved to the University of California, Berkeley and earned his bachelor's degree.
He then went to the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar. There, he earned his master's degree. He also studied at Harvard University, where he earned his law degree. While at Harvard, he was an editor for the Harvard Law Review.
Allan Gotlieb's Career in Public Service
In 1957, Allan Gotlieb began his career with the Canadian government. He joined the Department of External Affairs. This department handles Canada's relationships with other countries.
Early Diplomatic Roles
From 1960 to 1964, he worked for Canada at the United Nations in Geneva. He also worked at the Conference on Disarmament. In 1965, he wrote a book called Disarmament and International Law. This book discussed how countries could reduce weapons during the Cold War.
Later, he became an assistant undersecretary. He led the legal team at External Affairs from 1967 to 1968. He also served as a deputy minister for other government departments. He worked for the Department of Communications from 1968 to 1973. Then, he worked for Manpower and Immigration from 1973 to 1976. From 1977 to 1981, he was an undersecretary at External Affairs.
Ambassador to the United States
Allan Gotlieb's most famous role was as the Canadian Ambassador to the United States. He served in Washington D.C. from 1981 to 1989. An ambassador is a country's main representative in another country.
During his time as ambassador, he played a key part in a major agreement. This was the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement. He helped convince the U.S. to agree to terms that Canada could accept. This agreement made it easier for goods to move between the two countries.
Mr. Gotlieb and his wife, Sondra Gotlieb, were well-known in Washington. They often hosted parties attended by important people. Sondra Gotlieb wrote a book called Washington Rollercoaster. It shared stories about their time in Washington. She also wrote a column for The Washington Post newspaper.
After His Time as Ambassador
After leaving Washington, the Gotliebs moved to Toronto, Canada. From 1989 to 1994, Allan Gotlieb was the chairman of the Canada Council. This organization supports arts and culture in Canada. He was also the publisher of Saturday Night magazine.
In 1992, Mr. Gotlieb represented Canada in a legal case. This case was about the ocean border between Canada and France. He disagreed with the final decision and wrote his own opinion.
He was also involved with several companies and organizations. He was a member of the Trilateral Commission. He also chaired Sotheby's Canada, an art auction company. He led the Ontario Heritage Foundation and the Donner Canadian Foundation. This foundation is known for its annual literary prize.
Allan Gotlieb was also an art collector. He especially liked the work of a 19th-century painter named James Tissot. He and his wife gave their Tissot art collection to the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Mr. Gotlieb believed that Canada and the U.S. should work more closely together. He thought they should have common rules for trade and security. In 2002, he suggested a "grand bargain" to create new trade rules. He felt this would be better than dealing with problems one by one.
When U.S. President Ronald Reagan died in 2004, Mr. Gotlieb shared his thoughts. He spoke on CBC Newsworld about his experiences as ambassador during Reagan's presidency.
He once said that to be a good diplomat in Washington, you need to build personal relationships. He explained that inviting powerful people, including the media, to dinner helps. In 2006, he published his own book about his time as ambassador. It was called The Washington Diaries.
Allan Gotlieb's Personal Life
Allan Gotlieb married Sondra Kaufman in December 1955. They had three children together. Sadly, one of their children passed away in 2003. Allan Gotlieb died on April 18, 2020, at his home in Toronto. He passed away from cancer and Parkinson's disease.
Honours and Awards
Allan Gotlieb received many honours for his work.
- In 1987, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest civilian honours.
- In 2014, he became a member of the Order of Manitoba.
- In 1983, he received the Government of Canada's Outstanding Achievement Award. This is the top award for senior government officials.
- In 2005, he received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University.
- His book, "The Washington Diaries: 1981-1989," was nominated for a literary award in 2007. This was the Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing.
See Also
- List of ambassadors of Canada to the United States
