Headed the CIA's 1950s and 60s assassination attempts and mind-control program, known as Project MKUltra.

Gottlieb was a stutterer since childhood, and went on to earn a master's degree in speech therapy after retiring from the CIA. He was also born with club foot, which got him rejected from military service in WWII; but it did not prevent him from pursuing his other passions, such as folk dancing and goat herding.