David Gergen, a titan of American political advising who shaped the messaging of four U.S. presidents, has left us at 83, succumbed to Lewy body dementia on Thursday.
According to The Hill, from humble North Carolina roots to the corridors of power in Washington, Gergen’s decades-long career as a speechwriter, counselor, commentator, and author reflected a deep commitment to public service and a rare centrism in a polarized age.
Born in North Carolina, Gergen’s early years set the stage for a life of duty, including a stint in the Navy for three years before diving into the political arena.
By 1971, he landed a role as a speechwriter for former President Nixon, crafting words that would echo through history during a turbulent era.
His knack for communication soon elevated him to director of communications under former President Ford, where he honed his ability to navigate the stormy seas of political messaging.
Gergen didn’t stop there; he lent his strategic mind to the 1980 campaign of former President George H.W. Bush, proving his value across party lines in a way few could.
In 1981, he joined President Reagan’s White House, further cementing his reputation as a steady hand in Republican circles, even as he later crossed the aisle.
Perhaps most surprising was his role as counselor to former President Clinton, a move that raised eyebrows but underscored his belief in serving the nation over party—a principle too often lost in today’s tribal politics. Speaking to The Boston Globe in 2020, Gergen said, “Centrism doesn’t mean splitting the difference.”
Well, if centrism isn’t just a bland middle ground, it’s a shame more don’t follow Gergen’s lead in seeking solutions over soundbites, especially when progressive agendas often drown out practical dialogue.
By 1984, Gergen pivoted to journalism with the “MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour,” bringing his insider perspective to the public, and later served as editor of U.S. News & World Report. In more recent years, he became a familiar face on CNN, offering commentary that often cut through the noise of partisan shouting matches with a calm, reasoned voice.
During the 1990s, Gergen took on teaching at Harvard University, eventually co-directing the Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership, shaping the next generation of leaders. In 2001, he hit the literary jackpot with his New York Times best-seller “Eyewitness to Power,” a book that distilled lessons from Nixon to Clinton with an insider’s clarity.
Beyond academia, Gergen’s commitment to service shone through his work on nonprofit boards like New Profit and Leadership Now, as well as co-founding With Honor to support principled veterans in Congress—a noble effort to curb the divisive antics that plague Capitol Hill.
While his professional life was a whirlwind of influence, Gergen’s anchor was his marriage to Anne Elizabeth Gergen since 1967, a partnership that endured over five decades. Together, they raised two children, grounding a man who advised presidents in the quiet strength of family—a value too often sidelined in our culture’s rush to redefine tradition.
David Gergen’s passing marks the end of an era for a political mind who prized unity over division, even if his brand of centrism might not always align with the bold, unapologetic conservatism needed to counter today’s overreaching progressive policies; still, his life reminds us that principle and respect can coexist with disagreement.
