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Roger Ailes

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Roger Ailes was a very influential leader in American television and politics.

Nixon Contact Sheet WHPO-0514 (cropped)
Nixon Contact Sheet WHPO-0514 (cropped)

He served as the chairman and CEO of Fox News. He also led Fox Television Stations and 20th Television. Ailes was known for his strong impact on conservative media and the conservative movement. His work helped shape how many people saw American politics on their screens. He was a central figure in the media world for many years.

His career worked through several different stages of television and politics. He started as a production assistant in Cleveland and Philadelphia. Later, he became an executive producer for The Mike Douglas Show. In 1967, he had a major discussion about television and politics with Richard Nixon. This meeting led to Nixon asking Ailes to be his executive producer for television. Ailes used these skills to help many Republican presidents win elections. He advised leaders like Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

Reagan Contact Sheet C36903 (cropped)
Reagan Contact Sheet C36903 (cropped)

Roger Ailes grew up in the factory town of Warren, Ohio. He was born on May 15, 1940, to Donna Marie and Robert Eugene Ailes. His father worked as a factory maintenance foreman. Ailes attended Warren city schools and later graduated from Ohio University in 1962. During his college years, he served as the student station manager for WOUB. He was even named in the Warren G. Harding High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

Bush Contact Sheet P15686 (cropped)
Bush Contact Sheet P15686 (cropped)

Many facts about his later life involve serious legal and personal matters. In July 2016, several women filed lawsuits or made claims of sexual harassment against him. These women included hosts like Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly. Carlson alleged she was fired for refusing his advances. Other women, such as Andrea Tantaros, also spoke out about their experiences. These claims led to an internal review by his company, 21st Century Fox. Because of these events, Ailes resigned from Fox News on July 21, 2016. He received about $40 million in an exit agreement.

His life was also shaped by a medical condition called hemophilia. Hemophilia is a condition where the body has a hard time making blood clots. This meant Ailes was often in the hospital when he was young. This condition played a role in his death on May 18, 2017. He died at the age of 77 after a subdural hematoma. This brain injury was made worse by his hemophilia. His life was a mix of great professional success and difficult personal challenges.

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File:Nixon Contact Sheet WHPO-0514 (cropped).jpg
Nixon Contact Sheet WHPO-0514 (cropped).jpg
File:Reagan Contact Sheet C36903 (cropped).jpg
Reagan Contact Sheet C36903 (cropped).jpg
File:Bush Contact Sheet P15686 (cropped).jpg
Bush Contact Sheet P15686 (cropped).jpg
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