David Gergen, a respected political advisor and commentator who served under four U.S. presidents, has passed away at the age of 83. He died on Thursday after a long illness, according to Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein.
Gergen worked with Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Throughout his career, he held many important roles including speechwriter, communications director, and presidential counselor.
He also had a strong presence in academia and media. He was a professor at Harvard Kennedy School and founded the school’s Center for Public Leadership. Gergen received 27 honorary degrees during his lifetime and was known for his leadership and dedication to public service.
Former Vice President Al Gore paid tribute to him on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I will remember him most for 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
David Gergen was born in North Carolina and studied at Yale University and Harvard Law School. He served in the U.S. Navy during the 1960s before starting his political career in the White House in 1971 under President Nixon.
Over the years, Gergen was praised for promoting bipartisan cooperation and for being a thoughtful and fair political analyst, especially during his time. In his 2022 book Hearts Touched with Fire, he wrote about how the best leaders often rise during difficult times and make tough decisions that shape history.
A private burial will be held on Monday at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts. A larger memorial service at Harvard will take place in the coming weeks.
