The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News--and Divided a Country

by Sherman, Gabriel

  103. Ailes was soon selected Cablegram reported that Ailes was also “named the outstanding sophomore in radio-television by the local chapter of Alpha Epsilon Rho.” See also Athena, 1962 (Ohio University yearbook), 215.

  104. “We were sort of afraid” Author interview with Ohio University alumnus Mike Adams.

  105. When school was in session Hodson, Conversations from Studio B (interview with Roger Ailes, at 5:40).

  106. He was often Ibid., at 11:30.

  107. During one summer Author interview with Donald Hylkema.

  108. Without telling his classmates Hodson, Conversations from Studio B (interview with Roger Ailes, at 10:12). According to Broadcasting, Ailes was also the program director for WMPO in 1962. (“Week’s Profile: How to Change Debate Loser to Arena Winner,” Broadcasting, Nov. 11, 1968, 101). For the pseudonym “Dick Summers,” see Nadine Brozan, “Chronicle,” New York Times, April 2, 1993.

  109. “He didn’t let anyone” Author interview with Donald Hylkema.

  110. “He did not display” Author interview with Don Swaim.

  111. “I remember when he told me” Author interview with Ohio University alumnus Bill Klokow.

  112. “Control was extremely important” Author interview with Donald Hylkema.

  113. “The thing is about hemophiliacs” Author interview with Robert Ailes Jr.

  114. Her amended divorce petition Amended Petition, Donna M. Ailes v. Robert E. Ailes, Trumbull County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, Case 5396, March 18, 1960.

  115. The original complaint Petition, Donna M. Ailes v. Robert E. Ailes, Trumbull County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, Case 5396, Oct. 7, 1959.

  116. temporary restraining order Journal entry, Judge Bruce Henderson, Trumbull County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, Oct. 8, 1959.

  117. “I got a call” Junod, “Roger Ailes on Roger Ailes: The Interview Transcripts, Part 2.”

  118. “It affected Roger” Author interview with Robert Ailes Jr.

  119. On April 27 Journal entry (decree of divorce), Judge Bruce Henderson, April 27, 1960. That Donna J. Ailes was a senior in high school, see the amended petition.

  120. Joseph Urban Entry for Joseph Urban, created by his stepson Robert Ailes Jr., on Findagrave.com.

  121. “He could speak German” Author interview with Robert Ailes Jr.

  122. “I never found my stamp collection” Junod, “Roger Ailes on Roger Ailes: The Interview Transcripts, Part 2.”

  123. As a freshman Author interview with Frank Youngwerth. See also Chafets, Roger Ailes, 22. That Ailes’s mother was born in Parkersburg, see entry for Donna Marie Cunningham (Ailes) Urban, created by her son, Robert Ailes Jr., on Findagrave.com. Lisa Chase, daughter of the late David R. Chase, confirmed that Marjorie was engaged to her father.

  124. “Dave was a big man” Author interview with Frank Youngwerth.

  125. A talented broadcaster Author interview with Lisa Chase, daughter of David R. Chase. See also “Fates and Fortunes,” Broadcasting, Feb. 20, 1978, 64.

  126. “Roger stole her away” Author interview with Donald Hylkema.

  127. At 11:30 a.m. on August 27, 1960 Original logs of Galbreath Chapel, Ohio University Archives.

  128. After the wedding According to the 1960–1961 student directory, they lived at 49 Stewart Street. Ohio University Archives.

  129. Marjorie taught Author interview with Robert Ailes Jr.

  130. “Here’s a guy” Author interview with Frank Youngwerth.

  131. “Maybe that’s why” Junod, “Roger Ailes on Roger Ailes: The Interview Transcripts, Part 2.”

  132. After graduation Ailes mentions the Columbus radio job in his interview with Hodson at 17:20.

  133. He had applied Cablegram reported in 1962 that “Roger E. Ailes, son of Robert E. Ailes, Depart. 551, will be graduated this June from Ohio University where he majored in radio-television. Upon graduation, he will assume a position as an associate director at KYW-TV in Cleveland and will work in the program department and assist in the production and direction of television shows.”

  TWO: “YOU CAN TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF ANYTHING”

  1. After deciding to acquire For 1955, see Val Adams, “TV Variety Show Faces Time Cut,” New York Times, May 18, 1955. For Eyewitness, see archive.wkyc.com/company/about_us; for Barnaby, see Tim Hollis, Hi There, Boys and Girls! America’s Local Children’s TV Programs (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2001), 217–18.

  2. Chet Collier Radio Annual and Television Yearbook 1962 (New York: Radio Daily Corp., 1962), 803. Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson. Collier died in 2007.

  3. “Roger!” Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  4. Westinghouse was preparing Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson. For date of syndication, see Gil Faggen, “Cleveland Local Show Begins Syndication,” Billboard, Aug. 17, 1963.

  5. Forrest “Woody” Fraser Mike Douglas, Mike Douglas: My Story (New York: Ballantine, 1979), 209. For Hi Ladies!, see Mike Douglas, Thomas Kelly, and Michael Heaton, I’ll Be Right Back: Memories of TV’s Greatest Talk Show (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000), 17. For Club 60 and Adults Only, see Douglas, Mike Douglas, 202–3.

  6. Newman was the first Ibid.

  7. Together, Fraser and Newman Mike Douglas, Mike Douglas, 211. Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  8. “All they came up with” Ibid.

  9. One afternoon Mike Douglas, I’ll Be Right Back, 21, 203. Douglas tells a different version of the anecdote in My Story, 212.

  10. it was Kyser Douglas, My Story, 6. There are many variations on the story of how Douglas got his stage name. Page 82 of the Harry Harris biography, Mike Douglas: The Private Life of the Public Legend (New York: Award Books, 1976), has two: Douglas says that “Mike Dowd” sounded too much like one of Kyser’s friends. Kyser says that “Douglas” had a softer sound and more rhythm than “Dowd.” Page 168 of Douglas’s My Story has another: Douglas says that Kyser changed the name from “Michael D. Dowd Jr.” to “Michael Douglas” because the former sounded too “fancy,” like the name of a Supreme Court justice.

  11. buying and selling real estate Douglas, Kelly, and Heaton, I’ll Be Right Back, 16.

  12. “A million to one” Ibid., 23.

  13. Westinghouse signed him Ibid., 18, 23.

  14. “His geniality” Harris, Mike Douglas, 100.

  15. “You’re going to work” Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson. Ailes joined The Mike Douglas Show circa 1962–63. On March 11, 1963, Broadcasting reported that “Roger Ailes, associate director of Mike Douglas Show on KYW-TV Cleveland, [was] promoted to staff producer-director.”

  16. Starting out Harris, Mike Douglas, 122.

  17. “He would usually be gone” Author interview with Marjorie’s sister Kay Luckhardt. She lived with them for a month in 1964. According to the 1964 Cleveland City Directory, they lived at 17400 Euclid Avenue, Apartment 221. It was a commercial street, predominantly developed in the 1920s, a short walk to the train tracks. For Euclid-Green neighborhood boundaries and facts, see http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/cwp/districts.php?dt=dist6&dn=green.

  18. “He was very intense” Author interview with former Mike Douglas producer Deborah Miller. At the time she went by the name Debbie Miller.

  19. When Cleveland native Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson. See also Faggen, “Cleveland Local Show Begins Syndication.”

  20. One time a singer Author interview with a former colleague of Roger Ailes.

  21. For a young producer Harris, Mike Douglas, 108. See also Faggen, “Cleveland Local Show Begins Syndication.”

  22. “You didn’t know” Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  23. “He used to come into work” Author interview with former Mike Douglas producer Larry Rosen.

  24. He rarely invited Author interviews with Mike Douglas colleagues.

  25. Roger did cast her Author i
nterview with Marjorie’s sister Kay Luckhardt.

  26. “I felt like” Author interview with former Mike Douglas producer Rift Fournier. He died on October 6, 2013.

  27. “He was always joking” Author interview with Deborah Miller.

  28. “He’d come in” Author interview with Larry Rosen.

  29. One time, instead of Ibid.

  30. Fraser created drama Douglas, I’ll Be Right Back, 28.

  31. Fraser said, “The most” Harris, Mike Douglas, 108.

  32. Fraser insisted Ibid.

  33. “There were times” Author interview with former Mike Douglas producer Robert LaPorta.

  34. Fraser had a clear vision Douglas, I’ll Be Right Back, 26–27.

  35. “You can’t ignore New York” Harris, Mike Douglas, 114.

  36. The show expanded Harris, Mike Douglas, 104, 109. See also Mike Douglas Archive of American Television Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QP0oRay9eY&list=PL065F0DF2B108C359.

  37. A good-natured For the Rolling Stones, Cosby, and King, see Douglas, I’ll Be Right Back, 56–57, 97–98, 187–89.

  38. “We wrote him simple questions” Author interview with Larry Rosen.

  39. Ailes and Fraser began Harris, Mike Douglas, 121.

  40. According to Ailes Harris, Mike Douglas, 60, 105.

  41. “We had to write” Author interview with Larry Rosen.

  42. For the first few years Harris, Mike Douglas, 105.

  43. The company was gaining “NBC to Make Trade with Westinghouse,” United Press International, June 3, 1965.

  44. Collier smoothed over Harris, Mike Douglas, 121.

  45. In August 1965 Harris, Mike Douglas, 110, 112, 116; Inga Saffron, “Channeling TV History,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb. 4, 2011.

  46. Within two years “Television: Mommy’s Boy,” Time, Oct. 6, 1967.

  47. Douglas’s agent soon Douglas, I’ll Be Right Back, 36.

  48. “Mike was really controlled by Woody” Author interview with Deborah Miller.

  49. “The reason was very simple” Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  50. In Douglas’s memoir Douglas, I’ll Be Right Back, 217–19. (Woody Fraser, who now works for Fox News, declined to be interviewed for this book.)

  51. “Give us the lowdown” Author interview with Larry Rosen.

  52. “He became friends” Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  53. “It was a kind of game” Harris, Mike Douglas, 66.

  54. Debbie Miller and a friend Author interview with Deborah Miller.

  55. Ailes was his replacement On July 18, 1966, Broadcasting announced that “Roger E. Ailes, associate producer of The Mike Douglas Show, named executive producer, replacing Forrest L. Fraser, who becomes manager of talent and program development of WBC productions, New York.”

  56. Officially, Fraser had been moved Harris, Mike Douglas, 120–21. Fraser told Harris, “Westinghouse did move me upstairs, because they were trying to hold on to me, but it didn’t last long. I only stayed to kind of cover myself monetarily. Westinghouse is very fair in one respect. When they let someone go, it’s in a much nicer fashion than many other big corporations.” Fraser returned to The Mike Douglas Show in 1973.

  57. In 1967, Fraser left Author interview with Kenny Johnson; “New Morning TV Show in March,” The Record Newspapers, Troy, New York, Jan. 20, 1968; “Upbeat in Variety Talk Syndication,” Broadcasting, Feb. 26, 1968, 19–20.

  58. “That was a real palace coup” Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  59. Larry Rosen was Author interview with Larry Rosen.

  60. One producer Author interview with a former Mike Douglas producer.

  61. In his book Roger Ailes and Jon Kraushar, You Are the Message: Getting What You Want by Being Who You Are (New York: Crown Business, 1988), 128–29.

  62. Within days of Fraser’s ouster Author interview with Larry Rosen.

  63. On the wall, he hung Author interview with Robert LaPorta. In an interview with Broadcasting, Ailes refers to putting the quote on his office wall: “Week’s Profile: How to Change Debate Loser to Arena Winner,” Broadcasting, Nov. 11, 1968, 101. See also McGinniss, The Selling of the President, 67.

  64. Theodore Roosevelt’s Theodore Roosevelt, “Citizen in a Republic” (speech, Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910), http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html.

  65. Ailes fired Debbie Miller Author interview with Deborah Miller.

  66. Larry Rosen and Launa Newman Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  67. “Roger always used to say” Author interview with Robert LaPorta.

  68. “Roger weighed 160 pounds” Author interview with Robert LaPorta.

  69. Ailes made sure Harris, Mike Douglas, 54.

  70. “He gave me a wide berth” Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  71. At one point Harris, Mike Douglas, 53–54.

  72. During one production Author interview with Kenny Johnson. Later in his career, Johnson broke into Hollywood and co-wrote and directed the CBS television movie Senior Trip, about a small-town class trip to Manhattan, which featured a hugely ambitious hemophiliac character named Roger Ellis, played by Scott Baio. “I’m gonna make it. Big—and in New York … where it counts,” Ellis declares in one scene.

  73. “I want everyone” Roger Ailes memo, Aug. 10, 1966.

  74. Ailes contacted classical music buff Author interview with International Piano Library cofounder Gregor Benko.

  75. The show had gone color “Douglas Show to Make Color Debut,” Billboard, Feb. 11, 1967. The article notes that the show would begin taping in color on February 20 in Cypress Gardens, Florida, and would be made available on March 6.

  76. Once, when Barbara Author interview with Barbara Walters.

  77. In September 1967 “People,” Sports Illustrated, Sept. 18, 1967, 86.

  78. “Roger got on the phone” Author interview with Robert LaPorta.

  79. Kenny Johnson Author interview with former Mike Douglas producer Kenny Johnson.

  80. “We called Roger ‘Ralph’ ” Author interview with Robert LaPorta.

  81. In the fall of 1967 Indenture filed in the Deed Book in the Recorder of Deeds Office, Media, Pennsylvania, Book 2287, 560–61. They took out a $31,000 mortgage for the house (see Book 2786, page 411). The cul-du-sac is Oak Valley Road.

  82. Ailes was making $60,000 “Nixon’s Roger Ailes,” Washington Post (Q&A), Feb. 13, 1972, http://www.scribd.com/doc/53543922/Roger-Ailes-I-Dont-Try-to-Fool-Voters. In an author interview, Kenny Johnson, who followed Ailes as executive producer, said that the figure was commensurate with his own salary as executive producer.

  83. Bob LaPorta was Author interview with Robert LaPorta.

  84. During this period McGinniss, The Selling of the President, xi.

  85. “Roger and I” Author interview with Joe McGinniss.

  86. Politically, Ailes Ibid.

  87. When a crew member Author interview with a friend of Roger Ailes.

  88. A year after Author interviews with Bob LaPorta and Kenny Johnson.

  89. He formed Author interviews with Robert LaPorta and Kenny Johnson. According to Pennsylvania state filings, Bounty Enterprises was created on July 8, 1968. Project Five Productions, Inc. was created on August 12, 1968. Roger Ailes’s profile in Broadcasting on November 11, 1968, mentions Bounty Enterprises.

  90. “He had so much” Author interview with Robert LaPorta.

  91. Ailes filmed a couple Author interviews with Robert LaPorta and Kenny Johnson.

  92. For Larry Rosen, the trigger came Author interview with Larry Rosen.

  93. nominated for two Emmys “The Complete Emmy List: Over 160 Nominations Are Made in 33 Categories with CBS Leading,” Broadcasting, May 8, 1967, 82–83. Alyssa McGovern of PMK*BNC confirmed on behalf of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences that Larry Rosen was listed as the producer on the nomination for the program achievement award. Mike Douglas was also nominated for an Em
my in Individual Achievements in Daytime Television.

  94. “Roger wanted only” Author interview with Larry Rosen.

  95. As it happened Robert E. Dallos, “ ‘Death of a Salesman’ Wins Emmy as Best Drama,” New York Times, June 5, 1967. Mike Douglas took the prize for Individual Achievement.

  96. A few weeks later Author interview with Larry Rosen. His departure was noted on page 68 of the October 2, 1967, issue of Broadcasting. “Larry Rosen, producer of Mike Douglas Show, appointed producer for Screen Gems in Hollywood,” the magazine reported. Screen Gems produced The Outcasts.

  97. “When Roger took over” Harris, Mike Douglas, 121.

  THREE: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

  1. During a 1968 segment Author interview with Kenny Johnson.

  2. During George Wallace’s appearance Ibid.

  3. “I’d operate like a third base coach” Harris, Mike Douglas, 60.

  4. “Roger was really gunning for him” Author interview with Kenny Johnson.

  5. One morning in the summer Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  6. After losing a run Peter Kihss, “Nixon, Happy as New Yorker, Says Job Is Law, Not Politics,” New York Times, Dec. 29, 1963.

  7. Newman thought Nixon Author interview with Launa Newman-Minson.

  8. Kenny Johnson recalled one conversation Author interview with Kenny Johnson.

  9. Nixon was scheduled Memo from Nixon aide Dwight Chapin, Oct. 6, 1967.

  10. The day before the interview Memo from Clint Wheeler, Feeley & Wheeler advertising agency, Jan. 8, 1968.

  11. At 9:45 Daily agenda for Richard Nixon, Jan. 9, 1968.

  12. The earliest account McGinniss, The Selling of the President, 63.

  13. “I remember being 27” Marshall Sella, “The Red-State Network,” New York Times Magazine, June 24, 2001. Ailes also repeated this account to the journalist Zev Chafets, who wrote his 2012 authorized biography, Roger Ailes: Off Camera. On page 32, Chafets quotes Ailes: “We had Little Egypt on the show that day. She was an exotic dancer who performed with a boa constrictor. I figured I better not put her and Nixon in the same greenroom.”