David Gergen

Professor of Public Service
Director,
Center for Public Leadership
Office Address
Taubman-152
Mailing Address
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Mailbox 124
79 JFK Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Contact
Phone: 617-496-1982
Fax: 617-496-7301
Email: David_Gergen@ksg.harvard.edu
Assistant
Nancy Howley (617-496-0556)
David Gergen

Profile

David R. Gergen is a Professor of Public Serviceand Director of the Center for Public Leadership. Over the past three decades, he has served as a White House advisor to four presidents: Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. In the mid-1980s, he began a career in journalism, becoming editor of U.S. News & World Report. He joined the Kennedy School faculty in January 1999, while remaining editor at large for U.S. News and a frequent television analyst. In the fall of 2000 he published a best-seller, Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton. He also chairs the National Selection Committee for the Innovations in American Government program. He is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School and holds 13 honorary degrees. He served three and one-half years in the Navy and is a member of the Washington, DC, Bar. His wife, Anne, is a family therapist in Cambridge.

Courses

Spring

Fall

  • PAL-229 Driving Forces in American Politics

Not Offered

  • PAL-116 The Arts of Political Leadership

Media Expertise

David Gergen welcomes media inquiries on the following subjects:

Additional experts may be found by clicking on each subject listed. You may contact faculty directly or if you need assistance contact the Communications Office at 617-495-1115.

Research

Research for a complete list of faculty citations from 2001 - present, please visit the Harvard Kennedy School Research Report Online.

Selected Publication Citations:

  • Magazine and Newspaper Articles
    • Gergen, David. "The Spirit of Teamwork." U.S. News & World Report 143.18 (November 19, 2007).
    • Gergen, David. "Listen to the Voters on Iraq." Washington Monthly 38.13 (December 2006): 30-31.
  • Op-Eds
    • Gergen, David, and Andy Zelleke. "What Kind of Leader Would McCain or Obama Be?" Christian Science Monitor, July 17, 2008.
    • Gergen, David. "When Presidents Deceive." Washington Post.com, May 14, 2008.