David Gergen
David Richmond Gergen (born May 9, 1942) is an American political commentator and former presidential adviser who served during the administrations of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. He is currently 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 is also the former editor at large of U.S. News & World Report and a contributor to CNN.com and Parade Magazine. He has twice been a member of election coverage teams that won Peabody awards—in 1988 with MacNeil–Lehrer, and in 2008 with CNN.
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) |
| Other political affiliations | Republican (before 2017) |
| Spouse | Anne Gergen |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Harvard University (LLB) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Official website |
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 and Harvard Law School, and has been awarded 27 honorary degrees.