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54-479: Gergen joined the Nixon White House in 1971, as a staff assistant on the speech-writing team, becoming director of speechwriting two years later. He served as director of communications for both Ford and Reagan, and as a senior adviser to Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher . He graduated with honors from Yale and Harvard Law School , and has been awarded 27 honorary degrees. David Gergen

108-586: A US-led coalition returned Haiti 's popularly elected President Jean-Bertrande Aristide to power after a 1991 coup by the Haitian Armed Forces under Raoul Cédras had unseated him. The US military effort, known as Operation Uphold Democracy , was largely the product of Colin Powell 's diplomatic efforts, with little role played by Christopher. In the wake of the 1993 Oslo Accords, Secretary Christopher encouraged Jordan's King Hussein to make

162-604: A brief hiatus from the White House to write speeches for Treasury Secretary William E. Simon . Gergen writes in his book, "For me it was a great trade—the Treasury team taught me all about free markets and fiscal discipline." Gergen returned to the White House in 1975 as director of communications for President Gerald Ford . In 1980, Gergen was an adviser to the George H. W. Bush presidential campaign and went on to join

216-469: A capacity to persuade; an ability to work within the system; a sure, quick start; strong, prudent advisers; and a passion that inspires others to carry on the mission. In 2022, Gergen was working on a new book about renewing America's political culture. His 2nd book, Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders are Made , was published in May 2022. Gergen has been married since 1967 to Anne Elizabeth Gergen, who

270-621: A course called Contemporary Issues in American Elections with Elaine Kamarck . In January 2014 he taught a Harvard short-term course in New York City titled "Leadership for a Livable City." At Harvard Kennedy School, he served as the co-director of the Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership , which seeks to enhance leadership teaching and research. The Center helps to provide scholarships to 100 fellows

324-542: A damage control officer on a repair ship, USS Ajax : “Learning to control damage, it turned out, was the best possible preparation for my coming years in the White House”. Gergen began his political career in 1971 when he went to work for Richard Nixon as a staff assistant in the speech-writing office headed by Ray Price —a group that included Pat Buchanan , Ben Stein , and William Safire . Two years later, he rose to director of speechwriting. In 1974 Gergen took

378-768: A former public high school in his hometown of Durham, North Carolina, where he edited the school newspaper, Hi-Rocket . After high school graduation, he went to Yale University , from which he earned his B.A. degree in American studies in 1963, and was a member of the Manuscript Society . At Yale, he was managing editor of the Yale Daily News , whose staff at the time included future senator Joe Lieberman , Stephen Bingham , Robert G. Kaiser , and Paul Steiger . Gergen received his LL.B. degree from Harvard Law School in 1967 and married Anne Elizabeth Gergen,

432-571: A member of election coverage teams that won Peabody awards in 1988 with MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour , and in 2008 with CNN. Gergen taught at Duke University from 1995 to 1999 and then joined the Harvard University faculty in 1999. He is currently a professor of public service at the Harvard Kennedy School , where he teaches courses on leadership, public service, and U.S. politics. During election years, he co-teaches

486-482: A native of London , England, the same year. For three summers, Gergen was an intern in the office of North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford , where he became deeply involved in civil rights efforts. Gergen has called this work his “most satisfying experience in public service.” He served in the U.S. Navy for three-and-a-half years and was stationed on a ship home-ported in Japan . Gergen writes in his book of his time as

540-630: A partner in the firm of O'Melveny & Myers and served as Deputy Attorney General from 1967 to 1969 under President Lyndon B. Johnson . He served as Deputy Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter , holding that position from 1977 to 1981. In 1991, he chaired the Christopher Commission , which investigated the Los Angeles Police Department in the wake of the Rodney King incident. During

594-471: A peace treaty with Israel. Christopher eventually offered Hussein $ 200 million in military equipment and $ 700 million in debt forgiveness to sweeten the deal. On October 27, 1994, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin and Jordanian Prime Minister Abdelsalam al-Majali signed the Israel–Jordan peace treaty . The signing was witnessed by President Clinton and Secretary Christopher. Christopher sought to obtain

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648-776: A political journalist, commentator, and editor. After leaving the White House in 1977, he worked as a freelance writer and, in 1978, as the first managing editor of Public Opinion , a magazine published by the American Enterprise Institute . From 1985 to 1986, he worked as an editor at U.S. News & World Report , where he became editor at large following his service in the Clinton administration . There, he worked with publisher Mort Zuckerman to achieve record gains in circulation and advertising. Gergen's career in television began in 1985, when he joined

702-606: A professor at the University of California at Los Angeles . Warren Minor Christopher was born in Scranton, North Dakota , the son of Catherine Anne (née Lemen) and Ernest William Christopher, a bank manager. He was of part Norwegian descent. Christopher graduated from Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, and attended the University of Redlands , before transferring to the University of Southern California (USC). He

756-621: A publication. Sometimes such an editor is called a roving reporter or roving editor . Unlike an editor who works on a publication from day to day and is hands-on, an editor-at-large contributes content on a semi-regular basis and has less of a say in matters such as layout , pictures or the publication's direction. Editor at large is a term often used in fashion magazines , usually appointing long-term editors or celebrities. Notable examples are Andre Leon Talley of Vogue and Anna Dello Russo of Vogue Japan . Editors-at-large are more independent; they are allowed their own preferences in

810-485: A similar treaty between Rabin and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad , but to no avail. Working with Senator John McCain , in 1994, Secretary Christopher began actively promoting the normalization of United States–Vietnam relations . At the time, the U.S. had not had an embassy in Vietnam since 1975. The main obstacle to normalization came from Vietnam veterans and POW / MIA support groups who were convinced that Hanoi

864-498: A year, preparing them to serve as leaders for the common good. Gergen served as the inaugural Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership at Elon University and was a fellow at Harvard University's Institute of Politics in 1984. Gergen is the author of the New York Times bestseller book Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton , published in 2000. The book recounts his time in

918-689: Is a family therapist. They live in Cambridge, Massachusetts , and have two children and five grandchildren. Their son, Christopher, is a social entrepreneur in North Carolina as well as an author and a member of the Duke University faculty. Their daughter, Katherine, is a family doctor, working with the underserved population at the Boston Medical Center . Gergen has been active on many non-profit boards, and has served on

972-664: Is designed to replace the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and provide for more meaningful consultation between the President and Congress on matters of war. From 2003 until his death, Christopher taught a small seminar course on international affairs as part of the Honors Program at UCLA . Warren Christopher married twice. He married Joan Southgate Workman on June 14, 1949, in San Diego, California ;

1026-406: Is not a standing role at most publications. Instead, it is created on an as-needed basis. The most common reason for appointing an editor-at-large is when an editor with extensive experience and long association with the publication, who has been in the role of editor for a very long time, is replaced by a new editor but kept on board by being given the title of editor-at-large. This can be because

1080-526: The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour for Friday night discussions of politics, where he remained a regular commentator for five years. Currently, in addition to CNN, he has been a frequent guest on NPR and CBS ’ Face the Nation . He has written for Parade Magazine and has been published in an array of other publications including The New York Times and Newsweek . Twice he has been

1134-603: The 1992 presidential election , Christopher headed Bill Clinton 's search for a running mate , and Clinton chose Senator Al Gore . After Clinton won the 1992 election, Christopher led the Clinton administration's transition process , and he took office as Secretary of State in 1993. As Secretary of State, Christopher sought to expand NATO , broker peace in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , and pressure China regarding its human rights practices. He also helped negotiate

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1188-550: The 2000 United States presidential election . In the 2008 film Recount , which covers the days following the controversial election, Christopher was portrayed by British actor John Hurt . He was a member of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) Board of Advisors. He was an Advisory Board member for the Partnership for a Secure America , a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recreating

1242-578: The Dayton Agreement , which ended the Bosnian War . He left office in 1997, and was succeeded by Madeleine Albright . Christopher oversaw the Gore campaign's Florida recount effort in the aftermath of the disputed 2000 presidential election . At the time of his death in 2011, he was a senior partner at O'Melveny & Myers in the firm's Century City, California , office. He also served as

1296-627: The Palestine Liberation Organization , Peres signing for the State of Israel , Secretary Christopher signing for the United States and Andrei Kozyrev signing for Russia, in the presence of President Clinton. Christopher was one of the main visionaries and proponent of an integrated Middle East . In order to initiate further enlargement of NATO with minimal backlash from Russia, Secretary Christopher promoted

1350-776: The Partnership for Peace program as a stepping-stone into full NATO membership. This was against protests from the Pentagon. In what has been considered a terrible failure of the international community, the US and UN failed to intervene to stop the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Over the course of a hundred days, some 800,000 Tutsis were massacred by Hutu militia. During the 1992 presidential campaign , then-candidate Clinton blasted President George H. W. Bush for giving China low-tariff trading privileges despite its human rights abuses. Secretary Christopher agreed with this view and believed that

1404-942: The Presidential Medal of Freedom , the nation's highest civilian award, on January 16, 1981. Christopher's professional activities included service as president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, 1974–1975; chairman of the Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary of the American Bar Association , 1975–1976; member of the board of governors of the State Bar of California 1975–1976; and special counsel to California governor Edmund G. Brown in 1959. Christopher's civic activities included

1458-627: The Rule of Law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity. Christopher died at his home in Los Angeles on March 18, 2011, from kidney and bladder cancer. He was 85 years old. He was survived by his wife and four children from two marriages. He is interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills . President Obama described Christopher as a "resolute pursuer of peace" for his work in

1512-539: The Rwandan genocide , Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti , and the Khobar Towers bombing . On April 13, 1993, eleven Iraqi Intelligence Service agents smuggled a car bomb into Kuwait City in an attempt to assassinate former President George H. W. Bush as he spoke at Kuwait University . Secretary Christopher, among others, urged President Clinton to make a retaliatory strike against Iraq. On June 26, 1993,

1566-649: The Trilateral Commission . Gergen has been awarded 27 honorary degrees. Gergen is a member of the following non-profit boards: He also serves as an advisor to the following groups: Warren Christopher Warren Minor Christopher (October 27, 1925 – March 18, 2011) was an American lawyer and diplomat who served as the 63rd United States secretary of state from 1993 to 1997. Born in Scranton, North Dakota , Christopher clerked for Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas after graduating from Stanford Law School . He became

1620-1010: The UCLA Medal; the Harold Weill Medal from New York University ; the James A. Garfield Baller Award; the Thomas Jefferson Award in Law from the University of Virginia Law School ; and the Louis Stein Award from Fordham Law School . Christopher's picture hangs in the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City , near pictures of John Kerry , Robert McNamara , Elmo Zumwalt , and other American dignitaries, in commemoration of his visit to Vietnam , after normalization of relations between

1674-582: The Director of his presidential Transition . Serving as Secretary of State from January 20, 1993 until January 17, 1997, Christopher's main goals were the enlargement of NATO , establishing peace between Israel and its neighbors, and using economic pressure to force China's hand on human rights practices . The major events transpiring during his tenure included the Oslo Accords , the Dayton Agreement , normalization of United States–Vietnam relations ,

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1728-538: The Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department , which came to be known as the Christopher Commission . The Commission proposed significant reforms of the Los Angeles Police Department in the aftermath of the Rodney King incident (see 1992 Los Angeles riots ), which were approved overwhelmingly at the ballot box. In 1992, Christopher headed the vice presidential search for Governor Bill Clinton's presidential campaign and served as

1782-544: The Middle East and the Balkans. Hillary Clinton described Christopher as a "diplomat's diplomat – talented, dedicated and exceptionally wise". He was described as "the best public servant I ever knew" by President Jimmy Carter in his memoirs. On March 19, 2011, Carter stated that "[America] has lost a great and revered leader". Editor at large An editor-at-large is a journalist who contributes content to

1836-454: The Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton administrations. Gergen argues that, as the 21st century begins, the success of the United States as a country will depend heavily upon the success of a new generation in power. Drawing upon his many experiences in the White House, he offers seven vital elements that future leaders must possess: inner mastery; a central, compelling purpose rooted in moral values;

1890-575: The Reagan White House in 1981. Beginning as a staff director, he eventually became director of communications. In 1993 Gergen returned to the White House, serving as counselor to President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Currently, Gergen is a senior political analyst for CNN and often appears on Anderson Cooper 360 and Erin Burnett OutFront . Following his years in public service, Gergen worked as

1944-737: The Saudi government and the FBI repeatedly conflicted during the course of the investigation resulting in many arguments and fights, especially over the role of female FBI agents. In addition to several honorary degrees, Christopher received the following awards: the Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service for the Greatest Public Service Performed by an Elected or Appointed Official;

1998-625: The State of California; Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; member of the American Philosophical Society ; and chairman emeritus, Pacific Council on International Policy . In 1981, Christopher received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards . In 1991, Christopher served as chairman of

2052-538: The Stream of History: Shaping Foreign Policy for a New Era (1998) and Chances of a Lifetime (2001). Christopher was a recipient of the state of North Dakota 's Roughrider Award . He was a senior partner at O'Melveny & Myers . Christopher served as an Honorary Co-Chair for the World Justice Project . The World Justice Project works to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen

2106-556: The US should use economic pressure to force China to improve its human rights record. However, on May 26, 1994, President Clinton renewed China's low-tariff trading privileges, effectively delinking the human rights issue from China's trade relations with the US. U.S.-Sino relations improved as a result, with President Jiang Zemin visiting the U.S. in November 1997 and President Clinton visiting China in June 1998. On September 19, 1994,

2160-756: The United States launched 23 Tomahawk missiles against the Baghdad intelligence headquarters. In August 1993, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meeting in Norway drew up the Oslo Accords , which created the Palestinian Authority in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist . Secretary Christopher accepted Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres 's offer to host the signing ceremony. The ceremony took place in Washington D.C. on 13 September 1993, with Mahmoud Abbas signing for

2214-725: The bipartisan center in American national security and foreign policy. Former Secretaries of State James Baker and Christopher served as Co-Chairs of the Miller Center's National War Powers Commission. Baker and Christopher testified on March 5 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the War Powers Consultation Act of 2009 – the statute that the Commission unanimously recommended in its July 2008 report. The statute

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2268-417: The boards of Yale and Duke Universities. Among his current boards are Teach for America , City Year , Schwab Foundation , the Aspen Institute and the advisory board for the Harvard Graduate School of Education . He also chairs the advisory board for the new School of Law at Elon University . He is a member of the D.C. Bar, the Council on Foreign Relations , and the North American executive committee for

2322-420: The content they have to generate, and they do not always have to pitch their ideas to the main editor. Though they are still subject to the direction and oversight of chief editors and executive editors, they frequently come up with ideas for other writers to research and write. "At large" means the editor has no specific assignments, but rather works on whatever interests them. The position of editor-at-large

2376-407: The couple had a daughter, Lynn (born May 30, 1952). They divorced in 1955. He was married to Marie Wyllis from 1956 until his death; the couple had two sons: Scott (born December 27, 1957 ) and Thomas (born July 24, 1959 ), and a daughter, Kristen (born March 26, 1963 ). Christopher had five grandchildren: Andrew, Lauren, Warren, and Chloe Christopher, and Christopher Henderson. He wrote In

2430-491: The editor desires to go back to writing rather than stay in a largely 'management' role; because the long-time editor is burnt out and perhaps not performing; because a new editor with a different skillset or a different focus is needed; or a new publisher takes over and decides a new editor is called for. The title of editor-at-large is offered as a way to keep the outgoing editor at the publication rather than lose his or her skills, connections and readership appeal, especially if

2484-460: The following: member and president of the board of trustees of Stanford University ; chairman, Carnegie Corporation of New York board of trustees; director and vice chairman, Council on Foreign Relations ; director, Trilateral Commission , Bilderberg Group , Los Angeles World Affairs Council ; vice chairman of the Governor's Commission on the Watts riots (The McCone Commission) in 1965–1966; president, Coordinating Council for Higher Education in

2538-438: The two countries. At the 1999 unveiling of his portrait at the Department of State, attended by President Clinton, Christopher remarked: "To anyone who has served in Washington, there is something oddly familiar about [having your portrait painted]. First, you're painted into a corner, then you're hung out to dry and, finally, you're framed." He was sent to supervise the contested Florida recount for Al Gore 's campaign in

2592-486: The urban riots in Detroit during July 1967 and in Chicago during April 1968. In 1974, Christopher served as the president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association . Attorney General Elliot Richardson considered appointing Christopher as the special counsel to investigate the Watergate scandal , but he declined. Christopher was sworn in on February 26, 1977, as the Deputy Secretary of State and served in that position until January 20, 1981. As Deputy Secretary, he

2646-404: Was a member of the college fraternity Kappa Sigma Sigma . He graduated magna cum laude from USC in February 1945. From July 1943 to September 1946, he served in the United States Naval Reserve , with active duty as an ensign in the Pacific Theater. He entered Stanford Law School in September 1946, where he founded and became the first editor of the new Stanford Law Review. While there, he

2700-640: Was also elected to the Order of the Coif . Christopher became the first graduate of Stanford Law School to become a U.S. Supreme Court law clerk when he clerked for Justice William O. Douglas from October 1949 to September 1950. He practiced law with the firm of O'Melveny & Myers from October 1950 to June 1967, becoming a partner in 1958 and serving as special counsel to Governor Pat Brown . Christopher served as United States Deputy Attorney General from June 1967 until January 20, 1969, after which he rejoined O'Melveny & Myers . President Lyndon B. Johnson selected him to assist federal efforts to combat

2754-414: Was born in Durham, North Carolina , to John Jay Gergen , the chairman of the mathematics department at Duke University from 1937 to 1966, and Aubigne Munger (née Lermond). He is the youngest of four children, and one of his brothers, Kenneth J. Gergen , is a psychologist and professor at Swarthmore College . One of his other brothers was Stephen L. Gergen . Gergen was educated at Durham High School ,

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2808-408: Was involved in the successful Iran hostage crisis negotiations , and the resulting Algiers Accords securing the safe release of 52 American hostages in Iran . He also spearheaded the Sino-American relations with the People's Republic of China , helped to win ratification of the Panama Canal treaties, and headed the first interagency group on human rights . President Jimmy Carter awarded him

2862-595: Was not fully cooperating in the search for the remains of US soldiers in Vietnam. However, after Secretary Christopher convinced President Clinton that the Vietnamese government was fully cooperating in these searches, the President announced the formal normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam on July 11, 1995. In Dayton, Ohio , Secretary Christopher—working with Assistant Secretary Richard Holbrooke —negotiated peace talks between President of Serbia Slobodan Milošević , President of Croatia Franjo Tuđman , and President of Bosnia Alija Izetbegović . The result

2916-422: Was the November 1995 Dayton Agreement , which put an end to the Bosnian War . In the wake of the Khobar Towers bombing , Secretary Christopher traveled to Saudi Arabia to witness the site of the attack. In Dhahran (the home of the Khobar Towers), Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal allegedly promised Christopher that the FBI would have the full cooperation of the Saudi government. Eventually, however,

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