• David Gergen, adviser to four U.S. presidents, passes away at age 83.
• Gergen’s career spanned decades in politics, academia, and media.
• He was a champion of bipartisanship and founded the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard.
• A private burial and a memorial service are planned.
• Tributes highlight his kindness and integrity.

David Gergen, a renowned political adviser who contributed to the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton, has died at the age of 83. His son Christopher confirmed the news, noting that Gergen's passing followed a prolonged illness, according to CBS News and NPR.

During his extensive career in Washington, Gergen held various roles including speechwriter and communications director, and was widely recognized for his bipartisanship and collaborative spirit. Al Gore, former vice president under Clinton, remarked on social media that Gergen will be remembered for his "kindness to everyone he worked with" and his "sound judgment," highlighting the deep respect he earned across party lines, according to India Times.

Born in North Carolina, Gergen graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School, accumulating 27 honorary degrees throughout his lifetime. He founded the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard's Kennedy School, where he served as a professor of public service emeritus until his passing. His career started in the U.S. Navy during the 1960s, followed by a White House position as a speechwriting assistant for Nixon, as noted by CBS News and NPR.

Gergen also made a name for himself as a political analyst at CNN, where he contributed in-depth insights on American politics. In his 2022 book, "Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders are Made," he expressed that "our greatest leaders have emerged from both good times and, more often, challenging ones," showcasing the complexities of leadership, according to India Times and NPR.

Private burial services are scheduled for Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts, with a larger memorial planned at Harvard in the coming weeks, as confirmed by Mark Douglass from Douglass Funeral Home, according to CBS News.