The Washington Diaries: 1981-1989

by Allan Gotlieb

Canada’s legendary ambassador to the United States reveals his personal diaries from his time in Washington, from 1981 to 1989.

Allan Gotlieb was ambassador to the United States during a high point in U.S.-Canada relations, the Reagan and Mulroney eras. One of our country’s most effective diplomats, he was renowned for forging inside connections to the capital’s key decision-makers, and as he has said, “In Washington, gossip is not gossip — gossip is intelligence.”

Gotlieb kept a diary almost daily during his time in Washington, and its entries are filled with anecdotes about meetings and parties with the capital’s social, media, and political elite. Katharine Graham, Jesse Helms, and Sandra Day O’Connor are just a few who appear in its pages, as are such Canadian visitors as Jean Chrétien, Joe Clark, and even Wayne Gretzky.

With frankness and self-deprecating wit, Gotlieb recounts the absurdities and pretensions of life in Washington and his fight to make Canada’s voice heard. His diaries chronicle not only the major international issues of the time — such as the forging of the Free Trade Agreement — but also his own growth from Washington outsider to sophisticated power-broker.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Canada, History, Politics

656 pages, Hardcover

First published November 28, 2006

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trudeau was even weirder than we knew.
Gotleib was supposed to talk at the book club next week but he's put it off to June. I think it is going to be good.
The guy at the bookstore just raved about it when I bought it but it is really just a diary and perhaps I should have paid more attention to politics in the 80s rather than teasing my hair.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to find out more about the political happenings that resulted in the North American Free Trade Act, but don't feel like I learned much from this book. Although, I guess it was an interesting window into the political activity at the time, and conflicts between the US and Canada around "acid rain", "softwood lumber" and so-called "protectionist trade policies".

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective on our (Canada's) relations with the U.S. and the view that American politicians have of themselves, their sovereignty, and countries who seek to assert their own sovereignty (very protectionist and in many ways insecure). Gotlieb has a witty sense of humour.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will be reading for a long time.

[Andrew Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good engaging account of the Reagon years and Canada-US relations.