Maykl Gerson Former chief speechwriter and political adviser to the President of the United States. Country: USA

Biography of Michael Gerson

Michael J. Gerson was born in 1965 in New Jersey. His father worked in scientific research in the dairy industry, and his mother was an artist. Gerson grew up in St. Louis and attended the evangelical Westminster Academy. He then transferred to a small college near Chicago where he studied theology and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. During his studies, Gerson published an article about the work of Mother Teresa, which caught the attention of Charles Colson, a former Watergate convict and leader of the Prison Fellowship Ministries. Instead of pursuing a teaching position at a seminary, Gerson chose to work as a writer for Colson's organization.

Gerson's career in politics began when he became the director of policy and speechwriting for Senator Daniel R. Coats. He gained a reputation as a proponent of "compassionate conservatism," using conservative means to achieve liberal goals. He worked on various political campaigns, writing speeches for candidates such as Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Jr., Jack F. Kemp, and Robert J. Dole. Gerson also served as a political advisor for the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation.

In 1999, Gerson joined the early stages of Governor George W. Bush's presidential campaign. He focused on domestic policy issues, particularly education. Gerson was responsible for crafting Bush's inaugural address, which was well-received. In January 2001, Gerson joined the Bush administration as the deputy assistant to the president and chief speechwriter. He later became a political advisor and assistant to President Bush for speech preparation. President Bush nicknamed him the "Scribe."

Gerson played a significant role in shaping both the domestic and foreign policy rhetoric of the Bush administration. He is credited with popularizing the term "axis of evil" to describe Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. Gerson's religious background and his belief in the value of democracy influenced his policy recommendations, advocating for investments in HIV/AIDS, malaria, and poverty eradication worldwide. He is considered one of the most influential presidential speechwriters since Theodore C. Sorensen, who worked with President John F. Kennedy.

Gerson left the Bush administration in 2006 but remained involved in public service and writing. He served as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations from 2006 to 2009. In 2007, he began writing a column for The Washington Post. Gerson is married to a Korean-American woman whom he met at church in St. Louis. They have two sons.

Throughout his career, Gerson has been known for his religious conservatism and ideological loyalty to the president, combined with unique perspectives on certain issues. He continues to contribute to public discourse through his writing and public speaking engagements.