David Gergen, the former presidential adviser and political commentator who drew upon his experience to write two books, died on July 10 at the age of 83, the New York Times reports.

Gergen, a North Carolina native, was educated at Yale University and Harvard Law School. He served in the U.S. Navy before taking a job as a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon. He later served as the communications director for both President Gerald Ford and President Ronald Reagan.

After leaving the Reagan administration in 1984, he became a prolific political commentator on shows including The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour and Face the Nation. He briefly returned to politics in 1993, serving as an adviser to President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1994.

In 2000, he published Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership Nixon to Clinton, in which he reflected on his time serving under four presidents. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called the book “entertaining, fair-minded, and important reading for the end of an election year.” Another book, Hearts Touched With Fire: How Great Leaders Are Made, followed in 2022.

Gergen’s admirers paid tribute to him on social media. On the platform X, Clinton posted a statement reading, “David Gergen was a smart, thoughtful, and most importantly, honorable public servant who answered the call of four administrations and public broadcasting to inform the citizenry and reflect on the state of the country he loved.”

And political analyst David Axelrod wrote, “We lost David Gergen this week. He served 4 POTUSs of BOTH parties and as a distinguished editor & commentator, who offered wisdom & insight, not clickbait bile. David treated everyone he met w/kindness & grace. May his memory be a blessing...and example!”

Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.