Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Michael Gerson, Post columnist and Bush speechwriter on 9/11, dies at 58
Source: Washington Post
Michael Gerson, a speechwriter for President George W. Bush who helped craft messages of grief and resolve after 9/11, then explored conservative politics and faith as a Washington Post columnist writing on issues as diverse as President Donald Trumps disruptive grip on the GOP and his own struggles with depression, died Nov. 17 at a hospital in Washington. He was 58.
The cause of death was complications of cancer, said Peter Wehner, a longtime friend and former colleague.
After years of working as a writer for conservative and evangelical leaders, including Prison Fellowship Ministries founder and Watergate felon Charles Colson, Mr. Gerson joined the Bush campaign in 1999. Mr. Gerson, an evangelical Christian, wrote with an eye toward religious and moral imagery, and that approach melded well with Bushs personality as a leader open about his own Christian faith.
Mr. Gersons work and bonds with Bush drew comparisons to other powerful White House partnerships, such as John F. Kennedys with his speechwriter and adviser Ted Sorensen and Ronald Reagans with aide Peggy Noonan. Conservative commentator William Kristol told The Post in 2006 that in modern times, Mr. Gerson might have had more influence than any other White House staffer who wasnt chief of staff or national security adviser.
The cause of death was complications of cancer, said Peter Wehner, a longtime friend and former colleague.
After years of working as a writer for conservative and evangelical leaders, including Prison Fellowship Ministries founder and Watergate felon Charles Colson, Mr. Gerson joined the Bush campaign in 1999. Mr. Gerson, an evangelical Christian, wrote with an eye toward religious and moral imagery, and that approach melded well with Bushs personality as a leader open about his own Christian faith.
Mr. Gersons work and bonds with Bush drew comparisons to other powerful White House partnerships, such as John F. Kennedys with his speechwriter and adviser Ted Sorensen and Ronald Reagans with aide Peggy Noonan. Conservative commentator William Kristol told The Post in 2006 that in modern times, Mr. Gerson might have had more influence than any other White House staffer who wasnt chief of staff or national security adviser.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/11/17/michael-gerson-speechwriter-post-dies/
8 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Michael Gerson, Post columnist and Bush speechwriter on 9/11, dies at 58 (Original Post)
brooklynite
Nov 2022
OP
hlthe2b
(114,074 posts)1. Sad loss. He was a very eloquent and talented, emotional writer.
question everything
(52,179 posts)2. He would also fill in for David Brooks on PBS Newshour on Fridays
R.I.P
MarineCombatEngineer
(18,105 posts)3. RIP Mr. Gerson
Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Malmsy
(339 posts)4. His brother was a classmate of mine in undergraduate school. From his FB page:

Response to brooklynite (Original post)
Grasswire2 This message was self-deleted by its author.
ashpibaoo
(12 posts)6. Rip
R.I.P
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(136,041 posts)7. Didn't know he was that young.
onenote
(46,164 posts)8. Sad. Not long ago he adopted a puppy that was related to one of our dogs.