Former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and Washington Post op-ed columnist Michael Gerson passed away. The MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington broke the news early on Thursday. Age-wise, he was 58. Let’s see how did Gerson die? what happened? and what was his cause of death.
How did Michael Gerson die?
Michael Gerson, a former speechwriter for former President George W. Bush and a columnist for more than 20 years at the Washington Post who discussed conservative politics and faith, passed away on Thursday at a hospital in Washington, according to the Post’s obituary.
Michael Gerson,who died today at age 58,was a beautiful writer. As somebody experiencing being an “empty nester” for the 1st time this fall, this emotional 2013 column really hits home. https://t.co/1ltTEcMEFy
— Steve Marchand (@marchandsteve) November 17, 2022
Gerson passed away at the age of 58 from cancer-related complications.
Michael Gerson cause of death
Gerson’s longtime friend and former coworker Peter Wehner told the Post that complications from cancer were to blame for his passing. In 2013, Gerson received a diagnosis of slow-growing kidney cancer.
However, it appears that little can be spoken at this moment until the family issues a formal statement regarding the situation. As always, once this news is verified, we will look into it and notify you.
We must therefore wait until the family members have had the time and space to process this enormous loss.
Bush shared his condolences for Michael Gerson death
The Post claims that Gerson and Bush, who was likewise devout, had a close relationship.
Bush expressed his “heartbreak” over Gerson’s passing on Thursday in a statement.
He was a fantastic writer, and Bush said he was fortunate to have him as his chief speechwriter and trusted advisor for so long. “His large heart added to his sharp mind. As a result, Mike used the power of the pen to advance good policy rather than merely writing about it.
Throughout his presidency, Gerson assisted Bush in developing well-known and impactful speeches in response to various events.
Softer times also occurred. Gerson compared democracy to a “seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations” in Bush’s first inaugural speech.
He was also the author of the well-known Bush quote from a campaign speech promising to put an end to “the soft bigotry of low expectations” in minority and low-income children’ education.
Gerson wrote several speeches for Bush after the 9/11 attacks as the nation struggled to deal with the tragedy.
Bush stated on September 14, 2001, “With only three days having passed since these events, Americans do not yet have the distance of history.” But our duty to history is already clear: we must respond to these assaults and purge the world of evil.
Gerson’s defining moral and religious convictions
Bush’s address on September 14 combined Gerson’s hallmark views on religion and morals with a solace-seeking message to Americans: “Grief and tragedy and hostility are only for a while.”
Bush declared that “goodness, memory, and love have no limit.” And everyone who dies or experiences grief is held by the Lord of life.
Gerson, however, also encouraged the Bush administration to invade Iraq in 2003 on the grounds of untrue claims made at the time that the country in the Middle East contained WMDs.
Gerson’s books
The Post claims that Gerson never acknowledged remorse for encouraging the United States to invade Iraq and maintained that it was crucial for the country to combat terrorism in a 2007 biography.
In 2007, Gerson started working for the Post. He published twice-weekly essays, some of which were critical of former presidents Obama and Trump.
On May 15, 1964, Gerson was born in Belmar, New Jersey. Several books were also written by Gerson in addition to his essays.
Who was Michael Gerson?
In 1999, the political writer began working for the Bush campaign. Gerson shaped the former president’s rhetoric in the weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks while working as a copywriter for Bush.
Gerson departed the Bush administration in 2006 to pursue other writing and policy work, coining words like “the armies of compassion,” “the soft bigotry of low expectations,” and “the axis of Evil.”
Later, in 2007, he became a member of the Post, where he contributed twice-weekly essays on conservative politics and religion.
His wife, Dawn Soon Miller, their sons, Michael and Nicholas, as well as his two brothers, survive him.
The news was first reported by The Washington Post.
Tribute to Gerson
Joe Rossi said,
I grieve for Michael Gerson’s family and friends who loved him. But his passing is appropriate to remind that conservatives have co-opted, if not outright stolen, the consensus liberal position on the Iraq War they once loudly insisted support for determined how American you are.
Tom Gjelten said,
Michael Gerson embodied a moral and genuinely Christian approach to politics. And he was a beautiful writer.
Paul D. Miller said,
Heartbroken to hear of Michael Gerson’s passing. I never met him but often felt I was meeting a kindred soul in his writing. I’d long wanted to interview him about writing Bush’s Second Inaugural Address, one of the greatest (and most misunderstood) speeches of recent history.
Jim Kessler said,
.@ktumulty on the passing of Michael Gerson and grace with a dash of salt.
Jan Kravitz said,
Michael Gerson – Washington Post Conservative Columnist at Washington National Cathedral- beautiful sermon on being a Christian and living with depression. Watch for someone you know and love or for yourself. ❤️🙏Mr. Gerson passed away today from cancer.
Janice Sunseri said,
Well, 18 years is a window that closed too quickly. But, my son, those days have been the greatest wonder and privilege of my life. And there will always be a room for you.~ Michael Gerson
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