Roger Ailes(1940-2017)
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Roger Eugene Ailes was born in Warren, Ohio, the son of Donna Marie and
Robert Eugene Ailes, a factory foreman at a local factory. Later in
life, Roger Ailes was inducted into the Warren High School
Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
Roger Ailes graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio with a BA in
1962. Soon afterwards, Ailes began his television career as a property
assistant on
The Mike Douglas Show (1961).
Working in Cleveland and Philadelphia, Roger Ailes quickly rose to
producer in 1965 and executive producer between 1967 and 1968. "The
Mike Douglas Show" was also the show that allowed Roger Ailes to be
nominated for an Emmy in 1968.
It was during Roger Ailes' work on "The Mike Douglas" show that he
engaged in a lively discussion about Television and the role it plays
in Politics with then-Presidential candidate
Richard Nixon. Nixon, having recognized
Roger Ailes talent and foresight, brought him on as media adviser to
Nixon's presidential campaign from 1967-1968.
In 1968, Roger Ailes founded Ailes Communication in New York, a media
production and consulting firm which consulted for a number of
different politicians and businesses. He produced two Broadway plays:
"Mother Earth" in 1972 and "Hot-L Baltimore", which premiered in 1973
and ran for three years.
Roger Ailes' exposure and success in his political consulting during
the Nixon campaign, allowed him to once again consult for a
presidential campaign. This time, for the 1984 campaign of
Ronald Reagan. It is widely
believed that Ailes' coaching of Reagan was the deciding factor which
allowed Reagan to win the second presidential debate with
Walter Mondale.
Again in 1987 and 1988, while acting as producer for several television
specials, Roger Ailes successfully coached and consulted
George Bush to victory in both the
Republican primaries and, afterwards, the presidential election beating
opponent Michael Dukakis. Roger Ailes
announced his withdrawal from political consulting in 1992.
After his successful political consulting efforts, Roger Ailes helped
produce a television special called "Television and the Presidency",
which was later expanded to be a multi-part series. In 1988, Roger
Ailes wrote a book called "You Are the Message: Secrets of the Master
Communicators", in which he divulged some of the strategies and
philosophies for successful performances in public.
In 1993, Roger Ailes was named president of CNBC. During Ailes'
presidency at CNBC, he planned and executed the inception of another
CNBC channel, "America's Talking", which debuted in 1994. It was on
this channel that Roger Ailes hosted a nightly talk show called
"Straight Forward".
Once the decision by Microsoft and NBC to create an online and cable
news outlet became clear, and it was decided that "America's Talking"
would be abandoned, Roger Ailes left - the newly named - MSNBC. Shortly
after his departure from NBC/MSNBC, he was hired by
Rupert Murdoch to create the now-famous
"Fox News Channel" for Murdoch's News Corporation. Fox News quickly
became the most-watched cable news network in the United States, in
part due to notable names such as
Geraldo Rivera, as well as the memorable
tagline - which to this day is still used - "Fair and Balanced". Fox
News is also credited with big name stars, such as
Bill O'Reilly,
Sean Hannity and
Greta Van Susteren.
To this day, he remains chair and CEO of Fox News Channel and also
chairs Fox Television Stations, Twentieth Television, MyNetwork TV and
Fox Business Network.
Robert Eugene Ailes, a factory foreman at a local factory. Later in
life, Roger Ailes was inducted into the Warren High School
Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
Roger Ailes graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio with a BA in
1962. Soon afterwards, Ailes began his television career as a property
assistant on
The Mike Douglas Show (1961).
Working in Cleveland and Philadelphia, Roger Ailes quickly rose to
producer in 1965 and executive producer between 1967 and 1968. "The
Mike Douglas Show" was also the show that allowed Roger Ailes to be
nominated for an Emmy in 1968.
It was during Roger Ailes' work on "The Mike Douglas" show that he
engaged in a lively discussion about Television and the role it plays
in Politics with then-Presidential candidate
Richard Nixon. Nixon, having recognized
Roger Ailes talent and foresight, brought him on as media adviser to
Nixon's presidential campaign from 1967-1968.
In 1968, Roger Ailes founded Ailes Communication in New York, a media
production and consulting firm which consulted for a number of
different politicians and businesses. He produced two Broadway plays:
"Mother Earth" in 1972 and "Hot-L Baltimore", which premiered in 1973
and ran for three years.
Roger Ailes' exposure and success in his political consulting during
the Nixon campaign, allowed him to once again consult for a
presidential campaign. This time, for the 1984 campaign of
Ronald Reagan. It is widely
believed that Ailes' coaching of Reagan was the deciding factor which
allowed Reagan to win the second presidential debate with
Walter Mondale.
Again in 1987 and 1988, while acting as producer for several television
specials, Roger Ailes successfully coached and consulted
George Bush to victory in both the
Republican primaries and, afterwards, the presidential election beating
opponent Michael Dukakis. Roger Ailes
announced his withdrawal from political consulting in 1992.
After his successful political consulting efforts, Roger Ailes helped
produce a television special called "Television and the Presidency",
which was later expanded to be a multi-part series. In 1988, Roger
Ailes wrote a book called "You Are the Message: Secrets of the Master
Communicators", in which he divulged some of the strategies and
philosophies for successful performances in public.
In 1993, Roger Ailes was named president of CNBC. During Ailes'
presidency at CNBC, he planned and executed the inception of another
CNBC channel, "America's Talking", which debuted in 1994. It was on
this channel that Roger Ailes hosted a nightly talk show called
"Straight Forward".
Once the decision by Microsoft and NBC to create an online and cable
news outlet became clear, and it was decided that "America's Talking"
would be abandoned, Roger Ailes left - the newly named - MSNBC. Shortly
after his departure from NBC/MSNBC, he was hired by
Rupert Murdoch to create the now-famous
"Fox News Channel" for Murdoch's News Corporation. Fox News quickly
became the most-watched cable news network in the United States, in
part due to notable names such as
Geraldo Rivera, as well as the memorable
tagline - which to this day is still used - "Fair and Balanced". Fox
News is also credited with big name stars, such as
Bill O'Reilly,
Sean Hannity and
Greta Van Susteren.
To this day, he remains chair and CEO of Fox News Channel and also
chairs Fox Television Stations, Twentieth Television, MyNetwork TV and
Fox Business Network.