David Gregen, an American political commentator who worked for four American presidents and spent decades in government, academia, and media has died at the age of 83 on Thursday.
Gergen served in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Over the years, he worked as a speechwriter, communications director and presidential counselor, among other roles.
According to Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein, Gergen died after a prolong illness. Hannah Riley Bowles, a former co-director of the school’s Center for Public Leadership praised him saying that he devoted decades of his life to serving those who sought to serve.
“David was a principled leader of unmatched character, integrity and kindness, who chose to see goodness in every person he met,” Riley Bowles said.
Former vice-president Al Gore who served during US President Bill Clinton’s tenure also paid tribute, writing on X: “Of the countless ways that David Gergen contributed to our great country, what I will remember him for most was his kindness to everyone he worked with, his sound judgment, and his devotion to doing good in the world.”
Gergen was born in North Carolina and graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School. According to Harvard Kennedy School, he received 27 honorary degrees over the course of his career.
He also founded the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and remained there as professor of public service emeritus until his death.
After serving in the US Navy in the 1960s, Gergen began his White House career in 1971 as a speechwriting assistant for President Nixon. Colleagues described him as a champion of bipartisanship and collaboration throughout his career.
He also became well known as a senior political analyst for CNN. In his 2022 book, Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders are Made, Gergen wrote: “Our greatest leaders have emerged from both good times and, more often, challenging ones. … The very finest among them make the difficult calls, that can ultimately alter the course of history.”
A private burial is scheduled for Monday at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts. A larger memorial service at Harvard will be held in the coming weeks confirmed Mark Douglass, director of Douglass Funeral Home in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Gergen served in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Over the years, he worked as a speechwriter, communications director and presidential counselor, among other roles.
According to Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein, Gergen died after a prolong illness. Hannah Riley Bowles, a former co-director of the school’s Center for Public Leadership praised him saying that he devoted decades of his life to serving those who sought to serve.
“David was a principled leader of unmatched character, integrity and kindness, who chose to see goodness in every person he met,” Riley Bowles said.
Former vice-president Al Gore who served during US President Bill Clinton’s tenure also paid tribute, writing on X: “Of the countless ways that David Gergen contributed to our great country, what I will remember him for most was his kindness to everyone he worked with, his sound judgment, and his devotion to doing good in the world.”
Of the countless ways that David Gergen contributed to our great country, what I will remember him for most was his kindness to everyone he worked with, his sound judgment, and his devotion to doing good in the world. His innate interest in helping others was what made him so…
— Al Gore (@algore) July 11, 2025
Gergen was born in North Carolina and graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School. According to Harvard Kennedy School, he received 27 honorary degrees over the course of his career.
He also founded the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and remained there as professor of public service emeritus until his death.
After serving in the US Navy in the 1960s, Gergen began his White House career in 1971 as a speechwriting assistant for President Nixon. Colleagues described him as a champion of bipartisanship and collaboration throughout his career.
He also became well known as a senior political analyst for CNN. In his 2022 book, Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders are Made, Gergen wrote: “Our greatest leaders have emerged from both good times and, more often, challenging ones. … The very finest among them make the difficult calls, that can ultimately alter the course of history.”
A private burial is scheduled for Monday at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts. A larger memorial service at Harvard will be held in the coming weeks confirmed Mark Douglass, director of Douglass Funeral Home in Lexington, Massachusetts.
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