David Richmond Gergen papers, 1964-1999 (bulk 1971-1992)
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Summary
- Creator:
- Gergen, David R. (David Richmond), 1942-
- Abstract:
- Counselor, special advisor, director of communications, and speech writer to U.S. Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. Gergen has also worked as a journalist, serving as Editor-at-large of U.S. News and World Report and as a regular analyst on the "MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour" and the "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." A native of Durham, N.C., Gergen graduated from Yale University and the Harvard Law School and served for three-and-a-half years in the U.S. Navy. The collection includes materials from Gergen's career in politics as well as his journalism career. Among his political materials are presidential campaign materials for the 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984 elections; subject files; office memos; chronological files and telephone logs; daily planners; and legal and financial papers; as well as drafts and transcripts of Gergen's and other's speeches. The collection includes 86 black-and-white and color photographs, 16 audio cassettes; and 106 video cassettes. Other materials document his journalism career, including editorials, interoffice memos, and other U.S. News and World Report documents; financial and subject files relating to his work as an analyst on the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour; speeches; correspondence, chronological files, and telephone logs; and financial papers. The addition contains 445 electronic computer files; 5 color and 40 black-and-white photographs; 16 slides; and 82 video cassettes; as well as 35 audio cassettes. The audio and video cassettes include interviews with Richard Nixon and Ross Perot.
- Extent:
- 216.7 Linear Feet
- Language:
- English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.00443
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection (74,159 items, dated 1964-1999) documents David Gergen's professional life as a speech writer, director of communications, and special counsel for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon and for Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. The materials include presidential campaign materials for the 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984 elections; subject files; office memos; chronological files and telephone logs; daily planners; and legal and financial papers; as well as drafts and transcripts of Gergen's and other's speeches. The collection includes 86 black-and-white and color photographs, 16 audio cassettes; and 106 video cassettes. (2000-0356)
The addition (47,269 items, dated 1987-1996) continues to document David Gergen's involvement in national politics, as both Counselor and Special Advisor to President Clinton from 1993 to 1995, and as a journalist. Materials include editorials, interoffice memos, and otherU.S. News and World Report documents; financial and subject files relating to his work as an analyst on the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour; speeches; correspondence, chronological files, and telephone logs; and financial papers. The addition contains 445 electronic computer files; 5 color and 40 black-and-white photographs; 16 slides; and 82 video cassettes; as well as 35 audio cassettes. The audio and video cassettes include interviews with Richard Nixon and Ross Perot. (2000-0415)
- Biographical / historical:
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Chronology List Date Event 9 May 1942 Born in Durham, NC, to parents Aubigne Munger and Dr. John Jay Gergen1963 B.A., Yale University1967 LL.B., Harvard University1967-1971 Officer, U.S. Navy1971-1972 Staff Assistant, Nixon Administration1973-1974 Special Assistant to President Richard Nixon1975-1977 Special Counsel to President Gerald Ford1977-1981 Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute1981-1984 Director of Communications and Assistant to President Ronald Reagan1985-1986 Editor, U.S. News and World Report1985-2000 Contributor, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer1986- Editor-at-Large, U.S. News and World Report1993-1994 Counselor to President Bill Clinton1994 Special Advisor to President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher1995-1998 Visiting Professor, Duke University1999- Prof. of Public Service, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University2000 Author, Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership from Nixon to Clinton (Simon and Schuster)2000-2001 Commentator, ABC News Nightline2000-2002 Moderator, World @ Large PBS discussion series2000- Director, Center for Public Leadership, Kennedy School of Government2002-2003 Commentator, Marketplace - Acquisition information:
- The David Richmond Gergen Papers was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2000.
- Processing information:
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Accessioned by Ruth E. Bryan; Kate Crassons; Ann G. Langford; Alice Poffinberger; Lisa C. Stark
Completed December 4, 2000
Encoded by Ruth E. Bryan; Ming Guo; Sue-Ellen Katz; Mohammad Hutasuhut
Updated by Meghan Lyon, May 2011
This collection is unprocessed: materials may have not been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1972
Elections -- United States
Presidents -- United States
Politics, Practical -- United States
Communication -- Political aspects -- United States
Speechwriters -- United States
Cabinet officers -- United States
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1984
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1980
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1976 - Format:
- Photographs
Videocassettes
Slides (photographs)
Machine-readable records
Audiocassettes - Names:
- Perot, H. Ross, 1930-
Reagan, Ronald
Gergen, David R. (David Richmond), 1942-
Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
Simon, William E., 1927-
Clinton, Bill, 1946- - Places:
- United States -- Politics and government
Contents
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- Restrictions:
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The collection is closed pending processing.
- Terms of access:
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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], David Richmond Gergen Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1h61c