David Gergen, advisor to four US presidents and a famous media analyst, dies at the age of 83
Table of Contents
David Gergen’s End of a glorious political journey
David Gergen, who uniquely served as an adviser to four U.S. presidents and later became a respected analyst for CNN and PBS, died Thursday at the age of 83.
His son Christopher, confirmed he passed away from Lewy body dementia at a retirement community in Lexington, Massachusetts.
From Durham to the White House
Born May 9, 1942, in Durham, North Carolina, Gergen’s journey to political influence began during his student days at Yale.
While working as managing editor of the student newspaper, he spent a summer interning with North Carolina’s then-Democratic governor, Terry Sanford — his first taste of politics.
After earning a degree in American studies from Yale in 1963 and later a law degree from Harvard, Gergen served in the Navy for more than three years.
Those connections landed him a writing position in President Nixon’s administration, launching his extraordinary cross-party consulting career.
Rare bipartisan adviser
What made Gergen extraordinary was his ability to work across party lines.
After Nixon, he became an adviser to Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton in various roles.
When asked about this unusual trait, Gergen once told The Boston Globe that he considered himself “a staunch centrist.”
He explained, “The centrist doesn’t mean splitting the difference. It’s about finding solutions and bringing people together.”
Beyond the White House
Gergen’s influence extended far beyond being a presidential adviser.
He used his Yale journalism experience as managing editor of Public Opinion in 1978 and later as editor of U.S. News & World Report.
Television viewers knew him best as a thoughtful political analyst on CNN and PBS’s MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, where his balanced insights made him a trusted voice during turbulent political times.
Teacher and author
Gergen also shaped future leaders as a professor of public service at Harvard Kennedy School and founding director of the Center for Public Leadership.
His bestselling books, including “Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton” (2000) and “Hearts Touched With Fire: How Great Leaders Are Made,” shared the wisdom he gained from his front-row seat to presidential leadership.
A legacy of balance
In a political era increasingly defined by partisan divisions, Gergen’s ability to work effectively with leaders across ideological lines remains his most notable achievement.
His passing marks the end of a career dedicated to finding common ground in American politics.
Gergen is survived by his wife Anne, son Christopher, daughter Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett, two brothers and five grandchildren.