David Gergen

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David Gergen on the cover of his book, Eyewitness to Power.

David Richmond Gergen (born May 9, 1942) was a political consultant and presidential advisor during the Republican administrations of Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. He was also a campaign staffer for George H.W. Bush's 1980 presidential campaign. While remaining a member of the Republican Party, he also served as an advisor to Democratic President Bill Clinton.

David Gergen is a political contributor to CNN and frequently appears on Anderson Cooper 360. He also appears on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews.

Gergen earned his bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1963 and his law degree from Harvard University in 1967.

As of 2006 Gergen is a professor of public service at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and director of its Center for Public Leadership. He serves as editor-at-large at U.S. News & World Report and a professor of public service and director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Kennedy School of Government. A native of Durham, North Carolina, David Gergen has also taught at Duke University, where he is now a trustee. He received an honorary doctorate of law degree from Ball State University in 2005.

Gergen's frequent television appearances as a political commentator and pundit have occasionally made him the target of satire. In a biting critique of Sunday morning political talk shows, humorist Joe Bob Briggs made the observation that David Gergen bore an uncanny resemblance to The Cat in the Hat.

Gergen's brother, Ken, is a psychologist and professor at Swarthmore College.

[edit] Elon University School of Law

Gergen currently is serving as the Chair of the Elon University School of Law Advisory Board, which also includes three former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justices, two former Governors, and Bonnie McElveen Hunter, Chair of the American Red Cross and U.S. Ambassador to Finland 2001-2003.

Gergen attended Elon Law's formal dedication by former United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on September 19, 2006.

Prior to his work with the School of Law, Gergen served as Elon University's inaugural Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership.