Sondra Gotlieb

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Sondra Gotlieb (born 1936) is a Canadian journalist and novelist who lives in Toronto, Ontario.

She is married to Allan Gotlieb, former Canadian ambassador to the United States during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Her book Washington Rollercoaster recounted the Gotliebs' years as glamorous hosts in Washington during the Reagan era, when she wrote a much-read column for the Washington Post. Vanity Fair magazine called her a "sparkling hostess", and in Washington she quickly became known for her irreverent attitude and sharp tongue. She often attracted attention with remarks considered out-of-character for diplomatic wives. Referring to Canada's image in America as a dull northern neighbour, she remarked: "Maybe we should invade South Dakota".

In 1986, she attracted a blaze of international publicity when she slapped her social secretary at an official dinner she and her husband were hosting in honour of the Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney and U.S. Vice-President George H. Bush. The incident, while embarrassing, instantly made her one of the most talked-about women in Washington and invitations to the Gotliebs' parties became highly coveted.

After she and her husband returned to Canada in the early 1990s, they moved to Toronto's exclusive Rosedale neighbourhood and became the centre of establishment society in that city. Allan joined numerous corporate boards, including Conrad Black's Hollinger Inc., while Sondra began writing columns for the Globe and Mail and later the National Post, which was owned by Conrad Black.

She won the Stephen Leacock humour prize for her 1978 novel, True Confections, which was subtitled, Or How My Family Arranged My Marriage.

In 2001, she alluded to the infamous "Slap Flap" incident in a series of articles about her recent facelift, published in the National Post. Gotlieb recounted how the idea for cosmetic surgery first came to her after a visit with friends in Washington D.C. "One of them said to me, 'It must be nice living in Toronto. You can slop around without having to bother too much about your appearance. Canadians have such old-fashioned values.' For the second time in my life I felt like slapping someone's face."

[edit] Family

Gotlieb (née Kaufman) and husband Allan were married in 1955. They had three children: Rebecca (born in 1958), Marc (born in 1959), and Rachel (born in 1962).

Rebecca, a lawyer, was married to Keith Ham, also a lawyer, but they separated and divorced after the adoption of son David in 1992. She subsequently married journalist Matthew Fraser, former Editor-in-Chief of the National Post and television host. She died suddenly of cancer in January 2003. David now lives with Keith Ham and his family in England.

Marc, an art historian and University of Toronto professor, was married to Catherine May but they divorced almost immediately. He married Lauren Freeman and they have three children: Sally, Rosie, and Louis.

Rachel is married to lawyer Rob Dickson and they have two children, Fanny and Joe.

All the Gotliebs (except David) live in Toronto's Rosedale neighbourhood.