David Gergen
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. |
| Party | Republican (before 2017) Independent (2017–present) |
| Spouse |
Anne Gergen (m. 1967) |
| Relations | Kenneth J. Gergen (brother) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | John Jay Gergen (father) |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Harvard University (LLB) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
David Richmond Gergen (May 9, 1942 – July 10, 2025) was an American political commentator and longtime presidential adviser who served during the administrations of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. He was later a senior political analyst for CNN 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 and a contributor to CNN 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. He served as director of communications for both Ford and Reagan, and as a senior adviser to Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher. He graduated with honors from Yale University and Harvard Law School, and was awarded 27 honorary degrees.