Following the receipt of his B.A. and M.A. in psychology from Stanford University and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, John W. Gardner went on to an exceptionally distinguished career in public service. He would ultimately serve under six presidents, including as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under President Johnson from 1965 to 1968. Following his resignation from this post, Gardner became Chairman of the National Urban Coalition and, in 1970, he founded Common Cause, a prominent citizens' watchdog organization. Gardner resigned as Chairman in 1977 and the following year chaired the Organizing Committee that led to the founding of Independent Sector, a philanthropic coalition of over six hundred corporate and nonprofit organizations. He was also named Chairman of the Commission on White House Fellowships during this period. More recently, President Clinton appointed John Gardner co-chairman of the Campaign Finance Reform Commission.

John Gardner authored several books and wrote extensively on public service and leadership. Among the boards and councils on which Gardner served were the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Scientific Advisory Board of the Air Force, Rockefeller University, Shell Oil Company, American Airlines, the Enterprise Foundation, and Stanford University. He was also the recipient of a number of awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civil honor in the United States.

Gardner passed away in February 2002, leaving a vast legacy of public service. The John Gardner Fellowship Program is honored to be part of that legacy.

For more information about John W. Gardner, please explore the links below:

• The Gardner Center: http://gardnercenter.stanford.edu/
• In Memoriam: http://www.independentsector.org/about/gardner.html
• PBS Documentary: http://www.pbs.org/johngardner/

His Writings

• Selected speeches, writings and excerpts from John Gardner can be found at:
  http://www.pbs.org/johngardner/sections/writings.html
   
• Quotations by John Gardner can be found at:
  http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/John_W._Gardner/
   
• A list of books on or by John Gardner include:

  Living, Leading, and the American Dream (2003) - Edited by Francesca Gardner
  Excellence: Can We Be Equal and Excellent Too? (1961)
  To Turn the Tide (1962) - Editor
  Self-Renewal (1964)
  No Easy Victories (1968)
  The Recovery of Confidence (1970)
  In Common Cause (1972)
  Morale (1978)
  On Leadership (1990)
  Quotations of Wit and Wisdom (1980) - Edited with Francesca Gardner

You can also search for books on or by John Gardner at Amazon.com