A Tribute To David Gergen, 4x Presidential Advisor, Advocate For Women, And A Personal Friend, Mentor
America lost a giant this week, in more ways than one. David Richmond Gergen was a rare breed, a rare talent, a rare intellect and a profoundly warm, principled human being. At an imposing 6' 5,' and a man who worked at the heights of political, business and academic power and influence, he nonetheless was adept at understanding the plight of the common man and woman. I was privileged to call David a good friend, a trusted mentor and a robust debating partner for over 20 years.
David (I'm purposely forgoing the standard journalistic convention of using the person's last name for this piece) was an influential voice whispering in the ears of four presidents of the United States – Nixon, Reagan, Ford and Clinton – often crafting words and messages for them. David was a trusted counsel by leaders of both Republicans and Democrats, which created complications for him professionally at times.
In a world where alliances were (and are) transactional, David was his own man, basing his choices, comments, input and positions on his own principles and values. Like the rest of us, he had his inconsistencies, but he took responsibility for those too, often with self-deprecating humor and his deep baritone belly laugh.
An 'Eyewitness to Power' and spoke truth to power
David Gergen's book - Eyewitness to Power simonandschuster.com
In addition to being, as his first book is entitled, an 'Eyewitness to Power,' David was always one to speak his mind, not hesitating to speak truth to power when they might not want to hear it.
He was also a gifted, insightful journalist and political commentator, serving as editor of the conservative American Enterprise Institute's Public Opinion, and editor of U.S. News & World Report for a bit and then its editor-at-large, and then on PBS regularly and, most recently and frequently, a senior political analyst on CNN for many years. He wrote many searing columns on a range of domestic and international political issues.
Committed to public service as a calling after his years in government, David founded the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where he served as Director and professor for many years. Lucky were the students who had David as their professor. He would tell me that he earned his law degree (at Harvard Law School), with no intention of actually practicing law, but rather for the public service aspect.
David Gergen - speaking
David was an in-demand A-list speaker at corporate events, some of which I had the privilege of attending. Unlike so many other speakers, even high-level ones, David never gave a 'stump speech' or canned remarks. He would always present fresh insights tailored to their industry (and a few jokes) to every audience, commenting on the day's current events, political gyrations and policies with depth, nuance, perspective and warmth.
Many people would come up to him and ask him to run for president, and he would tell them he was flattered by the comment, but politely decline. Usually with a chuckle.
Advocate for women's leadership
One thing I have not heard any of the many – and well-deserved – tributes to him talk about though, was David's fierce commitment to advancing women in leadership, including expanding women's influence, economics and power.
He often did this in his signature quiet, behind-the-scenes style, leveraging his extraordinary influence without seeking the limelight or credit for doing so. For example, he played a quiet leadership role in founding Harvard Kennedy School's Women's Leadership Board (WLB) and Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP).
David Gergen interviewed by Joan Michelson at an Executive Women in Government event
I had the privilege of interviewing David, and moderating panels with him on a few occasions in this context. For example, I interviewed him for Executive Women in Government to a packed house of senior level women in government, both Senior Executive Service levels and political appointees. He was his usual candid and insightful self, also offering advice on how these women might advance and/or wield their power and influence most effectively based on the dynamics of the moment.
He was also a panelist at a program I produced and moderated for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) on the election of the time with two other esteemed journalists, Ron Brownstein, then at the National Journal, and the late Dotty Lynch, then the chief political analyst at CBS News. The robust and perceptive discussion that ensued was characteristic of every event he participated in.
What the country needs
David Gergen co-moderates a discussion with United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer at ... More the Harvard University Institute of Politics John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2015. (Photo by,)
David elevated the discourse at the table or in the room – and warmed it up too. He brought it back to earth, focusing the discussion on how the topic will affect the people, or who wins and loses their political power, and why, and what that dynamic will mean for the country.
It was always about the country with David, not side-ism.
Dining in Washington, DC not long ago, David and I had another robust discussion about what kind of leadership America needs now. He argued, as he did in his last book – 'Hearts Touched With Fire: How Great Leaders Are Made' – that his generation and baby boomers need to turn the reins over to younger generations.
David Gergen's book - Hearts Touched w Fire
I told him I understood his perspective, especially since, as a professor, he's surrounded by smart, motivated younger generations every day. But, I argued, we need more women in leadership of every generation. Ever-driven by an insatiable curiosity, David asked me why and I explained the unique perspectives, values, innovative thinking and experiences women bring,
In typical David Gergen style, he came to the conclusion that the answer was 'both and' – that America needs both many more women of all generations and many more younger people in political, government and corporate leadership.
David's way of wielding curiosity to get to common ground and policy that benefits the average American and the country's leadership in the world – and his affable nature and good humor – will be sorely missed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
28 minutes ago
- Washington Post
State Dept. layoffs led by team of outsiders willing to ‘break stuff'
The Trump administration's dramatic reorganization of the State Department, including this month's firing of more than 1,300 workers, was engineered primarily by a handful of political appointees lacking extensive diplomatic experience and chosen for their 'fidelity' to the president and willingness to 'break stuff' on his behalf, according to people with knowledge of the process.
New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
Tech's Top Venture Firm Tried to Stay Above Politics. Then a Partner Created a Furor.
Roelof Botha arrived last week at the annual Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, to meet and mingle with tech and media moguls. A controversy brewing back home followed him to the exclusive retreat. Mr. Botha, the managing partner of Sequoia Capital, a storied Silicon Valley venture capital firm, was repeatedly asked at the event about a colleague, Shaun Maguire, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Mr. Maguire — perhaps Sequoia's most outspoken partner — had posted on X on July 4 that Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Democrat running for New York City mayor, came from a 'culture that lies about everything' and was lying to advance 'his Islamist agenda.' Mr. Maguire's post was immediately condemned across social media as Islamophobic. More than 1,000 technologists signed an open letter calling for him to be disciplined. Investors, founders and technologists have sent messages to the firm's partners about Mr. Maguire's behavior. His critics have continued pressuring Sequoia to deal with what they see as hate speech and other invective, while his supporters have said Mr. Maguire has the right to free speech. In Sun Valley, Mr. Botha listened, but remained neutral, the people with knowledge of the matter said. For half a century, Sequoia has tried to maintain that neutrality, even as rival venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund started taking political stances. But as Mr. Maguire has increasingly made inflammatory comments, including saying that diversity, equity and inclusion 'kills people,' Sequoia is now in a place that its leaders never wanted to be: smack in the middle of the culture wars. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
An Ancient Law Could Shape the Modern Future of America's Beaches. Here's How.
If you go to a beach this summer, you might end up sunbathing in disputed territory. That's partly because of climate change and partly because of a legal principle from the Roman Empire. Most beaches have a natural defense against rising seas: The sandy area simply moves landward. But when property owners install sea walls or other barriers to protect beachfront homes and other buildings, the beach has nowhere to go. So it vanishes underwater. Geologists call it coastal squeeze. It's not a new problem, but it's been accelerating recently as climate change causes sea levels to rise. And that's prompting urgent questions about how coastal landscapes should be managed. Richard K. Norton, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Law, described the situation with a question: 'Are you going to save the beach house, or do you want to save the beach?' he said at a recent conference in New York City organized by Columbia University. 'Because you cannot save them both.' At issue is a legal concept from the sixth century A.D., when Emperor Justinian ordered the codification of Roman laws. The resulting code declared that features of nature like the air, running water, the sea and 'the shores of the sea' must be held in trust for the use of the public. That idea passed into English common law, and then to the United States. Today, most states define the beach below the high-tide line as public trust property, meaning members of the public have free access. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
