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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with David Bergen.

David Gergen
Gergen at the 2013 World Economic Forum

Counselor to the President
In office May 29, 1993 – June 28, 1994
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Clayton Yeutter
Succeeded by	Mack McLarty
White House Communications Director
In office June 17, 1981 – January 15, 1984
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Frank Ursomarso
Succeeded by	Michael A. McManus Jr.
In office July 4, 1976 – January 20, 1977
President	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Margita White
Succeeded by	Gerald Rafshoon (1978)
White House Staff Secretary
In office January 20, 1981 – June 17, 1981
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Richard Hutcheson
Succeeded by	Richard Darman
White House Director of Speechwriting
In office February 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974
President	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Ray Price
Succeeded by	Robert Hartmann
Personal details
Born	David Richmond Gergen May 9, 1942 Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	July 10, 2025 (aged 83) Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Independent (after 2017)^[1]
Other political affiliations	Republican (before 2017)
Spouse	Anne Gergen
Children	2
Education	Yale University (BA) Harvard University (LLB)
Signature
Website	Official website

David Richmond Gergen (May 9, 1942 – July 10, 2025) was an American political commentator and former presidential adviser who served during the administrations of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.^[2] He was later a senior political analyst for CNN^[3] and a professor of public service and the founding director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. Gergen was also the former editor at large of U.S. News & World Report^[4] and a contributor to CNN.com and Parade Magazine. He was twice a member of election coverage teams that won Peabody awards: in 1988 with MacNeil–Lehrer (now PBS News Hour), and in 2008 with CNN.

Gergen joined the Nixon White House in 1971, as a staff assistant on the speech-writing team, becoming director of speechwriting two years later.^[5] He served as director of communications for both Ford and Reagan, and as a senior adviser to Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher.^[6] He graduated with honors from Yale and Harvard Law School, and was awarded 27 honorary degrees.

Early life

David Gergen was born in Durham, North Carolina, to John Jay Gergen, the chairman of the mathematics department at Duke University from 1937 to 1966, and Aubigne Munger (née Lermond).^[7]^[8] He was the youngest of four children. One of his brothers, Kenneth J. Gergen, is a psychologist and professor emeritus at Swarthmore College.^[9]

Education

Gergen was educated at Durham High School, a former public high school in his hometown of Durham, North Carolina, where he edited the school newspaper, Hi-Rocket.^[10] After high school graduation, he went to Yale University, from which he earned his B.A. degree in American studies in 1963, and was a member of the Manuscript Society. At Yale, he was managing editor^[11] of the Yale Daily News, whose staff at the time included future senator Joe Lieberman, Stephen Bingham, Robert G. Kaiser, and Paul Steiger.^[12] Gergen received his LL.B. degree from Harvard Law School in 1967 and married Anne Elizabeth Gergen, a native of London, England, the same year.^[13]

Life and career

For three summers, Gergen was an intern in the office of North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford, where he became deeply involved in civil rights efforts. Gergen called this work his “most satisfying experience in public service.”^[14] He served in the U.S. Navy for three-and-a-half years and was stationed on a ship home-ported in Japan. Gergen wrote in his book of his time as a damage control officer on a repair ship, USS Ajax: “Learning to control damage, it turned out, was the best possible preparation for my coming years in the White House”.^[6]

Political activity

Gergen began his political career in 1971 when he went to work for Richard Nixon as a staff assistant in the speech-writing office headed by Ray Price—a group that included Pat Buchanan, Ben Stein, and William Safire. Two years later, he rose to director of speechwriting.^[2]

In 1974 Gergen took a brief hiatus from the White House to write speeches for Treasury Secretary William E. Simon. Gergen writes in his book, “For me it was a great trade—the Treasury team taught me all about free markets and fiscal discipline.” Gergen returned to the White House in 1975 as director of communications for President Gerald Ford.^[15] In 1980, Gergen was an adviser to the George H. W. Bush presidential campaign and went on to join the Reagan White House in 1981. Beginning as a staff director, he eventually became director of communications. In 1993 Gergen returned to the White House, serving as counselor to President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher.^[6]^[16]^[17]

Journalism

Gergen was a senior political analyst for CNN and often appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 and Erin Burnett OutFront.

Following his years in public service, Gergen worked as a political journalist, commentator, and editor. After leaving the White House in 1977, he worked as a freelance writer and, in 1978, as the first managing editor of Public Opinion, a magazine published by the American Enterprise Institute. From 1985 to 1986, he worked as an editor at U.S. News & World Report, where he became editor at large following his service in the Clinton administration. There, he worked with publisher Mort Zuckerman to achieve record gains in circulation and advertising.^[2]

Gergen’s career in television began in 1985, when he joined the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour for Friday night discussions of politics, where he remained a regular commentator for five years.^[2]

In addition to CNN, he was a frequent guest on NPR and CBS’ Face the Nation. He wrote for Parade Magazine and was published in an array of other publications including The New York Times and Newsweek.^[4]

He was twice a member of election coverage teams that won Peabody awards in 1988 with MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour, and in 2008 with CNN.

Academia

Gergen taught at Duke University from 1995 to 1999 and then joined the Harvard University faculty in 1999. He was also a professor of public service at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he taught courses on leadership, public service, and U.S. politics.^[18] During election years, he co-taught a course called Contemporary Issues in American Elections with Elaine Kamarck.^[19] In January 2014 he taught a Harvard short-term course in New York City titled “Leadership for a Livable City.”^[20]

At Harvard Kennedy School, he served as the co-director of the Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership, which seeks to enhance leadership teaching and research.^[21] The Center helps to provide scholarships to 100 fellows a year, preparing them to serve as leaders for the common good.

Gergen served as the inaugural Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership at Elon University and was a fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics in 1984.^[22]^[23]

Books

Gergen is the author of the New York Times bestseller book Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton, published in 2000. The book recounts his time in the Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton administrations. Gergen argues that, as the 21st century begins, the success of the United States as a country will depend heavily upon the success of a new generation in power. Drawing upon his many experiences in the White House, he offers seven vital elements that future leaders must possess: inner mastery; a central, compelling purpose rooted in moral values; a capacity to persuade; an ability to work within the system; a sure, quick start; strong, prudent advisers; and a passion that inspires others to carry on the mission.^[6] In 2022, Gergen was working on a new book about renewing America’s political culture.^[4] His 2nd book, Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders are Made, was published in May 2022.

Gergen, David (September 6, 2000). Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-684-82663-9.
Gergen, David (May 10, 2022). Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders are Made. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-982-17057-8.

Personal life

Gergen married Anne Elizabeth Gergen, a family therapist, in 1967. They lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and had two children and five grandchildren.^[4] Their son, Christopher, is a social entrepreneur in North Carolina as well as an author and a member of the Duke University faculty. Their daughter, Katherine, is a family doctor, working with the underserved population at the Boston Medical Center.^[24]

In December 2024, Katherine revealed that Gergen had Lewy body dementia.^[25] He died at a retirement home in Lexington, Massachusetts, on July 10, 2025, at the age of 83.^[26]

Awards and memberships

Gergen was active on many non-profit boards, and served on the boards of Yale and Duke Universities. Among them were Teach for America, City Year, Schwab Foundation, the Aspen Institute and the advisory board for the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He also chaired the advisory board for the new School of Law at Elon University. He was a member of the D.C. Bar, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the North American executive committee for the Trilateral Commission.^[4] Gergen was awarded 27 honorary degrees.^{[citation needed]}

Non-profit boardsGergen was a member of the following non-profit boards:^[27]Aspen Institute Boston Museum Project Center for Global Development Center for the Study of the Presidency City Year The Mission ContinuesThe National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned PregnancyMorehouse College Leadership InstituteSchwab Foundation for Social Enterprise,World Economic Forum Teach for America World Resources Institute Yale Corporation (former)

Advisory rolesHe also served as an advisor to the following groups:^[27]Chair, National Advisory Board, Elon University School of LawCo-chair, Inclusive America Project, Aspen InstituteMember, Advisory Board, Harvard Graduate School of EducationMember, North American Executive Committee, Trilateral CommissionFormer Chair, National Selection Committee for Innovations in American GovernmentFormer Co-chair, National Selection Committee, Top American Leaders (co-sponsored by The Washington Post and Center for Public Leadership)Former Chair, Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Peck Presidential Awards (for service to the U.S. presidency)Member, Selection committees for Fast Companys Social Capitalist Awards (best social entrepreneurs, U.S.)Judge, Civic Venture Purpose Prize Awards (citizens over 60 creating social change)Judge, Gleitsman Awards

References

David Gergen, Master of the Game
Kelly, Michael (31 October 1993). “David Gergen, Master of The Game” – via NYTimes.com.
“CNN – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos”. CNN. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
“David Gergen Biography”. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
“Executive Office of the President”. 23 December 2014.
Gergen, David. Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership Nixon to Clinton. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.
“3 Nieces Serve As Bridesmaids Of Anne Wilson”. The New York Times. November 5, 1967. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
“Gergen Mathematics Lectures at Duke”. Archived from the original on 2010-02-04.
“Swarthmore College Faculty Page”. July 8, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
Perry Deane Young (15 June 2005). “He shoulda been Deep Throat”. Indyweek.com. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
“Marketing the President”. The New York Times. 13 September 1981.
“Where Have You Gone, Joseph Lieberman? – The New Journal”. 30 October 2000.
“David Gergen”. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
“CNN Profiles: The real David Gergen”. CNN. September 21, 2012.
“Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum”.
“David Gergen, Master of THE GAME”. The New York Times. 31 October 1993.
“Gergen move to State leaves officials spinning”. tribunedigital-baltimoresun. 29 June 1994.
Harvard Kennedy School. “HKS Faculty Biography”. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
Harvard Kennedy School. “Harvard Kennedy School – Contemporary Issues in American Elections”. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
“MLD-332M: Leadership for a Livable City”. 2013-2014 Course Listing. Harvard Kennedy School. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
“Center for Public Leadership – Harvard Kennedy School”. Archived from the original on 2013-03-05.
“Gergen advises emerging leaders”. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
“David R. Gergon”. The Institute of Politics at Harvard University. 25 April 2025.
“Katherine Gergen Barnett – School of Medicine”. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
“My father, David Gergen, has dementia. Here are his reflections on the path forward for our country”. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
Haberman, Clyde (July 11, 2025). “David Gergen, Washington Veteran Who Advised Four Presidents, Dies at 83”. The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
“David Gergen Biography”. davidgergen.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-24. Retrieved 2009-02-08.

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to David Gergen.

David Gergen at IMDb
Harvard Kennedy School biography Archived 2017-07-11 at the Wayback Machine

Political offices
Preceded byMargita White	White House Communications Director 1976–1977	VacantTitle next held byGerald Rafshoon
Preceded byRichard G. Hutcheson III	White House Staff Secretary 1981	Succeeded byRichard Darman
Preceded byFrank Ursomarso	White House Communications Director 1981–1984	Succeeded byMichael A. McManus Jr.
Preceded byClayton Yeutter	Counselor to the President 1993–1994	Succeeded byBill Curry

v t e White House communications directors

v t e CNN personnel

Authority control databases

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Articles, books and commentary by Joel Snell

DAVID GERGEN

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