Effective leadership qualities are essential tosuccess, especially for a president, David Gergen said Tuesdaynight at Emens.
"I grew up thinking that the smartest person isthe best leader," said Gergen, a former presidential adviser. "Idon't believe that anymore. I believe that the best leader isbalanced ... in mind, body and soul."
Gergen spoke to a crowd of about 250 people, thelargest crowd that telecommunications professor Steve Bell canrecall.
Gergen recently released his book "Eyewitness toPower: The Essence of Leadership." In the book, he not only looksback on his experiences in the White House with all fourpresidents, but he also analyzes and discusses the qualities eachhad for being good leaders.
Gergen's speech Tuesday also included plenty ofnostalgia from his experiences in the White House andpresidents.
"Nixon was the best strategist that I have everknown in my life," Gergen said.
Gergen then went on about how he admired Ford forhis decency, Reagan for his leadership abilities and Clinton forhis intelligence.
"Clinton is the brightest man I've seen in theWhite House since Nixon," Gergen said.
Gergen even went into a small speech about histhoughts on the current president.
"It's my hope that every president succeeds,"Gergen said.
He then said he believes George W. Bush has the"raw capacity" but lacks the curiosity and desire to understand theperspectives of others.
"There are some things he's done well," Gergensaid.
Along with advising Nixon, Ford, Reagan andClinton, Gergen is a vibrant participant in the journalismindustry. He was a political commentator on television and is nowthe editor-at-large for "U.S. News & World Report." Gergen isalso a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government atHarvard University, and he is the director of the Center of PublicLeadership.
Because of his active career, Ball State tried tonab Gergen.
"We attempted to get [him] as a professor, but itwouldn't fit in his schedule," said Jackie Buckrop, assistant deanof the College of Communications, Information, andMedia.
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