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Roger Eugene Ailes was born in Warren, Ohio, to Donna Marie and Robert Eugene Ailes, a factory foreman. Later, he was inducted into the Warren High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
Ailes earned a BA from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, in 1962. He began his television career as a property assistant on The Mike Douglas Show (1961). Working in Cleveland and Philadelphia, he quickly advanced to producer by 1965 and executive producer from 1967 to 1968. His work on The Mike Douglas Show earned him an Emmy nomination in 1968.
During his time on The Mike Douglas Show, Ailes engaged in a discussion about television’s role in politics with then-presidential candidate Richard Nixon. Recognizing Ailes’ talent, Nixon brought him on as a media adviser for his presidential campaign from 1967 to 1968.
In 1968, Ailes founded Ailes Communication in New York, a media production and consulting firm serving politicians and businesses. He produced two Broadway plays: Mother Earth (1972) and Hot-L Baltimore (1973), which ran for three years.
Ailes’ success with Nixon’s campaign led to his consulting for Ronald Reagan’s 1984 presidential campaign. His coaching is widely credited with helping Reagan win the second debate against Walter Mondale.
In 1987 and 1988, while producing several television specials, Ailes coached George H.W. Bush to victories in the Republican primaries and the presidential election over Michael Dukakis. He withdrew from political consulting in 1992.
Following his political work, Ailes produced a television special titled Television and the Presidency, later expanded into a multi-part series. In 1988, he authored You Are the Message: Secrets of the Master Communicators, sharing strategies for effective public performance.
In 1993, Ailes became president of CNBC. During his tenure, he launched another CNBC channel, America’s Talking, in 1994, where he hosted the nightly talk show Straight Forward.
When Microsoft and NBC decided to create MSNBC and discontinue America’s Talking, Ailes left the network. Soon after, Rupert Murdoch hired him to create Fox News Channel for News Corporation. Fox News quickly became the most-watched cable news network in the U.S., featuring personalities like Geraldo Rivera and adopting the enduring slogan "Fair and Balanced." The network also launched the careers of Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Greta Van Susteren.
Ailes remains chair and CEO of Fox News Channel and also chairs Fox Television Stations, Twentieth Television, MyNetworkTV, and Fox Business Network.
