Deaver, Michael Keith

Michael Keith Deaver, San Jose State University ‘59, was born on April 11, 1938, in Bakersfield, California, and died on August 18, 2007, in Bethesda, Maryland. Deaver was a member of Gamma Epsilon Chapter at San Jose State University, where he was the piano player for the chapter house. Following college, Deaver traveled the world for eight months with his fraternity brother, Berger Chester Benson, San Jose State University ‘58.

Deaver had a long career in politics, beginning in California. Deaver was Executive Director of the Santa Clara County Republican Party, a political field representative for the California Republican Party, and worked for Ronald Reagan during his term as California governor. He followed President Reagan to Washington D.C., where Deaver served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff from 1981 until 1985.

Deaver has written three books, Behind the Scenes, A Different Drummer: My Thirty Years with Ronald Reagan, and Nancy: A Portrait of My Years with Nancy Reagan. In 1985, Deaver was awarded the Career Achievement Award by Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. Mike Deaver led a full life with an impressive career in politics.