David Gergen, political insider who advised four presidents of both parties, dies at 83

David Gergen served as a presidential adviser to four presidents of both parties and was a longtime CNN political analyst.

David Gergen, who served as a presidential adviser to four presidents of both parties and educated generations of Americans about leadership and civic engagement, has died. He was 83. Gergen was the founding director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and a longtime political analyst for CNN. His son, Christopher Gergen, confirmed the death and said the cause was Lewy body dementia. Gergen was a legendary figure in Washington and beyond who brought insider knowledge and used his prominent media platforms to promote responsible leadership. He began his political career in the Nixon White House and later wrote that “before he self-destructed, Nixon was among the best of modern presidents.” He served as communications director on two occasions, first to Gerald Ford and then to Ronald Reagan. Ten years later, after a stint running US News & World Report and his first contract with CNN, he returned to the White House as a counselor to Bill Clinton. “It was a controversial appointment – both for him and for me, as I had worked previously for three Republican presidents,” Gergen later wrote in a memoir. “But he was a friend, and he was our president, so I said yes. And indeed, I was honored.” This is a developing story and will be updated.