Trinity Forum Conversations The Duty of the Writer: A conversation from the Michael J. Gerson Memorial Prize event
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Dec 9, 2025 
Peter Wehner, a senior fellow and former White House speechwriter, joins esteemed panelists David Brooks, Christine Emba, Russell Moore, and Karen Swallow Prior to reflect on the legacy of Michael Gerson. They explore the essential moral responsibilities of writers today, especially in a landscape of sensational media. The conversation emphasizes the power of language to heal and inspire virtue, the writer's duty to tell truth accessibly, and the importance of restoring moral language in public discourse. Each panelist shares insights on balancing personal conscience with the craft of writing.
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Bush on Gerson’s PEPFAR Role
- President George W. Bush praised Gerson as a brilliant speechwriter and voice of conscience who helped create PEPFAR.
- He affirmed Gerson's faith as central and his writing as continuing to influence public life.
Bono On Gerson’s Faithful Courage
- Bono remembered Gerson's discomfort at seeing faith distorted and his critique of evangelical excesses.
- Bono said Gerson loved God more than religion and wrote to give wings to our better angels.
Craft, Reading, And Faith Formed His Voice
- Gerson combined reading, hard work, and craft to produce precise, empathetic prose that saw into people and moments.
- His faith, humility, and honesty tempered moral seriousness into a winsome public voice.
