David Gergen
David Gergen | |
---|---|
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. |
Political party | Independent (since 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 (born May 9, 1942) is an American
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 has been 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 is the youngest of four children, and one of his brothers, Kenneth J. Gergen, is a psychologist and professor at Swarthmore College. One of his other brothers was Stephen L. Gergen.[9]
Education
Gergen was educated at
Life and career
For three summers, Gergen was an intern in the office of North Carolina
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
Journalism
Currently, Gergen is a senior political analyst for
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
Gergen's career in television began in 1985, when he joined the
Currently, in addition to CNN, he has been a frequent guest on
Twice he has been a member of election coverage teams that won
Academia
Gergen taught at Duke University from 1995 to 1999 and then joined the Harvard University faculty in 1999. He is currently a professor of public service at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he teaches courses on leadership, public service, and U.S. politics.[18] During election years, he co-teaches 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
- 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 has been married since 1967 to Anne Elizabeth Gergen, who is a family therapist. They live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and have 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]
Awards and memberships
Gergen has been active on many non-profit boards, and has served on the boards of
Recent non-profit boardsGergen is a member of the following non-profit boards:[25]
|
Advisory rolesHe also serves as an advisor to the following groups:[25]
|
See also
- List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines
References
- ^ David Gergen, Master of the Game
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b c d e "David Gergen Biography". Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "Executive Office of the President". 23 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d Gergen, David. Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership Nixon to Clinton. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.
- ^ Commercial, City (November 5, 1967). "3 Nieces Serve As Bridesmaids Of Anne Wilson". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Gergen Mathematics Lectures at Duke". Archived from the original on 2010-02-04.
- ^ "Swarthmore College Faculty Page". 8 July 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.
- ^ "Katherine Gergen Barnett - School of Medicine". Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ a b "David Gergen Biography". davidgergen.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-24. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
External links
- Official website
- Harvard Kennedy School biography Archived 2017-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- David Gergen on Charlie Rose