Gordon Donaldson

Archibald Gordon Clark Donaldson (18 August 1926 – June 2001) was a Scottish-Canadian author and journalist. He appeared on television and also produced television programming.

Early life Donaldson was born in Glasgow. He went to school until he was 16 and then worked for the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. In 1944 he joined the British Army. Donaldson explained his ambitions by saying, "I became a reporter at 16 and never wanted to be anything else, except a foreign correspondent."

Career

During the close of World War II, Donaldson worked for the British Intelligence Corps. He did much reporting on anti-Semitism in Germany after the war. Between 1963 and 1966 he was based in Washington, D.C. while working for the Toronto Telegram, and while in Texas the United States Secret Service restrained him for coming near U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

One critic recommended The Prime Ministers of Canada for students, saying it was "straightforward and thoroughly enjoyable," and "accessible and helpful." Canadian humourist Will Ferguson, in his book Bastards & Boneheads, cited Donaldson's book on the prime ministers as one of the two "most rewarding" sources on prime ministers, along with Michael Bliss' Right Honourable Men. However, Ferguson gave some criticism, in that Donaldson allegedly used "the word 'squaw'" more than once, which was "somewhat disturbing."

In 1984, Donaldson became president of the Toronto Press Club and also worked for its News Hall of Fame. In 2001 the media also reported Donaldson's addition of Tara Singh Hayer to the Hall of Fame. Donaldson also wrote an autobiography. However, at the time of his death it was not published.