Roger Ailes

Lore & Background

Ailes worked on the 1984 reelection campaign of Ronald Reagan and, with Lee Atwater, guided George H. W. Bush to victory in the 1988 Republican primaries and general election. He coined the 'Orchestra Pit Theory' about sensationalist political coverage. In 1993, he became president of CNBC and created America's Talking, which later became MSNBC. In 1996, Rupert Murdoch hired Ailes as CEO of Fox News. He also chaired Fox Television Stations and 20th Television. In July 2016, he left Fox News after allegations of sexually harassing female employees, including on-air hosts Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Andrea Tantaros.

Reader's Guide

Roger Ailes's significance lies in his transformative role in American media and politics. As a media consultant, he shaped the television strategies of Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, pioneering techniques in framing national campaign issues. His creation and leadership of Fox News established a powerful conservative media outlet that influenced the conservative movement and American political discourse. However, his legacy is deeply controversial due to numerous allegations of sexual harassment throughout his career, which led to his departure from Fox News in 2016. These allegations, including those from on-air hosts, sparked broader discussions about workplace culture and misogyny in media organizations. Ailes's death in 2017 from a subdural hematoma aggravated by his hemophilia closed a career marked by both substantial media influence and significant ethical controversy.

Did You Know?

• Ailes had hemophilia and was often hospitalized as a youth.
• He won Emmy Awards in 1967 and 1968 for his work on The Mike Douglas Show.
• Ailes created the America's Talking channel, which eventually became MSNBC.
• He died at age 77 after a subdural hematoma aggravated by his hemophilia.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"People don’t want to be informed, they want to feel informed." — Roger Ailes "I often tell my clients they should do at least 30 percent of all their reading outside their own field. This will give them perspective and knowledge that will make them more interesting." — Roger Ailes "I want to see her legs. [..] I want the viewers to see their legs. I want people to watch Fox News even if the sound is turned down." — Roger Ailes "In September 2016, The Washington Post reported Gretchen Carlson was to receive $20 million damages in her sexual harassment suit against Ailes and Fox News." — Roger Ailes