Editing Roger Ailes (section)

== Career ==
=== Early television ===
Ailes's career in television began in [[Cleveland]] and [[Philadelphia]], where he started as production assistant (1961), producer (1965), and executive producer (1967–68) at [[WKYC|KYW-TV]],<ref name="varietyobit">{{cite news|last1=Bernstein|first1=Paula|last2=Littleton|first2=Cynthia|last3=Lowry|first3=Brian |title=Roger Ailes, Fox News Founder Who Was Forced Out by Scandal, Dies at 77 |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/roger-ailes-dead-77-fox-news-1202433523/ |access-date=May 20, 2017|work=Variety|date=May 18, 2017}}</ref> for a then-locally produced talk-variety show, ''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]''. He continued as executive producer for the show when it was [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] nationally, and in 1967 and 1968 he won [[Emmy Award]]s for it.<ref name="varietyobit"/>

In 1967, Ailes had a spirited discussion about television in politics with one of the show's guests, [[Richard Nixon]], who took the view that television was a gimmick.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Flint|first1=Joe |title=Roger Ailes, Former Fox News Chief, Dies at 77 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/former-fox-news-chief-roger-ailes-dies-1495112318 |website=[[Wall Street Journal]]|date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=May 18, 2017}}</ref> Later, Nixon called on Ailes to serve as his Executive Producer for television. Nixon's successful presidential campaign was Ailes's first venture into the political spotlight.<ref name="salonmasterdeceivers">{{cite news|last1=McFarland|first1=Melanie |title=Master deceivers: When Roger Ailes met Richard Nixon |url=http://www.salon.com/2017/05/18/master-deceivers-when-roger-ailes-met-richard-nixon/ |access-date=May 20, 2017|work=Salon|date=May 19, 2017}}</ref> His pioneering work in framing national campaign issues was later chronicled in ''[[The Selling of the President 1968]]'' by [[Joe McGinniss]].<ref name="salonmasterdeceivers"/>

Ailes was an employee of [[Television News Inc.]], a syndicated television newsfilm service owned by [[Joseph Coors]], from January to September 1975.<ref name="NYT750110">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Les |date=January 10, 1975 |title=TV News Service to Transmit Materials by Satellite |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/10/archives/tv-news-service-to-transmit-materials-by-satellite-salvation-for.html |access-date=February 23, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223083553/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/10/archives/tv-news-service-to-transmit-materials-by-satellite-salvation-for.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Star750920">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95900958/director-of-independent-tv-news/|date=September 20, 1975|page=15A|title=Director of independent TV news company, Roger Ailes, resigns|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Minneapolis Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 23, 2022|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223083554/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95900958/director-of-independent-tv-news/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

=== Political consulting ===
[[File:Nixon Contact Sheet WHPO-0514 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Ailes with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Richard Nixon]] in 1969]]
[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet C36903 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Ailes with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1986]]
[[File:Bush Contact Sheet P15686 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Ailes with [[President of the United States|President]] [[George H. W. Bush]] in 1990]]
In 1984, Ailes worked on [[1984 United States presidential election|the campaign to reelect Ronald Reagan]]. In 1987 and 1988, Ailes was credited (along with fellow consultant [[Lee Atwater]]) with guiding [[George H. W. Bush]] to victory in the [[1988 Republican Party presidential primaries|Republican primaries]] and in the [[1988 United States presidential election|victory]] over [[Michael Dukakis]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Lloyd|last=Grove |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/12/08/before-roger-ailes-was-disgraced-mogul-he-was-george-hw-bushs-wily-media-man/ |title=Before Roger Ailes was a disgraced Fox News mogul, he was George H.W. Bush's 'wily media man'|newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |publisher=Nash Holdings, LLC|location=Washington DC|date=December 8, 2018}}</ref>

Ailes was credited with the "Orchestra Pit Theory" regarding sensationalist political coverage in the news media, which originated with his quip:{{Blockquote|If you have two guys on a stage and one guy says, "I have a solution to the [[Israel-Palestine conflict|Middle East problem]]," and the other guy falls in the orchestra pit, who do you think is going to be on the evening news?<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1802&context=ilj |title=The Death of an Honorable Profession|last=Bogus|first=Carl T. |website=[[Indiana University Law School]]|location=Bloomington, Indiana|date=March 17, 1997 |access-date=July 13, 2009}}</ref>}} Ailes's last campaign was the unsuccessful effort of [[Dick Thornburgh|Richard Thornburgh]] in his run for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in November 1991.<ref name="guardianobit">{{cite news|last1=Carlson|first1=Michael |title=Roger Ailes obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/18/roger-ailes-obituary |access-date=May 18, 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=May 18, 2017}}</ref> He announced his withdrawal from political consulting in 1991.<ref name="guardianobit" />

Days after the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]], Ailes advised President [[George W. Bush]] that the American public would be patient as long as they were convinced that Bush was using the harshest measures possible.<ref name=WaPo20021119>{{cite news|last=Grove|first=Lloyd |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/11/19/the-reliable-source/78c9570b-e972-47b8-a825-60d2c306499c |title=The Reliable Source: Roger Ailes-Bob Woodward Smackdown?|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 19, 2002}}</ref> The correspondence was revealed in [[Bob Woodward]]'s book ''[[Bush at War]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Bush at War]]|first=Bob|last=Woodward |author-link=Bob Woodward |publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]]|location=New York City|date=2002|page=207|isbn=9780743215381|quotation=Ailes ... was currently the head of FOX News ... In that position, Ailes was not supposed to be giving political advice.}}</ref> Criticized for giving political advice, Ailes lashed out against Woodward, saying "Woodward got it all screwed up, as usual", and "The reason he's not as rich as [[Tom Clancy]] is that while he and Clancy both make stuff up, Clancy does his research first."<ref name=WaPo20021119/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/11/19/cf.opinion.fox.debate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030144621/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/11/19/cf.opinion.fox.debate |archive-date=October 30, 2007 |title=Fox chief too cozy with White House?|work=[[CNN]]|date=November 19, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Colford|first=Paul D. |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/didn-w-ailes-sez-fox-news-boss-disputes-book-article-1.497140 |title=Didn't Help W, Ailes Sez: Fox News boss disputes book|work=[[New York Daily News]]|date=November 19, 2002}}</ref> Ailes refused to release a copy of the memo he sent to Bush.<ref name=WaPo20021119/>

=== Book ===
In 1988, Ailes wrote a book with long-time aide Jon Kraushar entitled ''You Are the Message: Secrets of the Master Communicators''.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Roger|last1=Ailes|first2=Jon|last2=Krausher |title=You Are the Message: Secrets of the Master Communicators |url=https://archive.org/details/youaremessagesec00aile |url-access=registration |publisher=Dow Jones-Irwin|location=New York City|date=1988|isbn=978-0-87094-976-0}}</ref>
In 1989, Ailes wrote a book with Jon Kraushar entitled ''You Are the Message: Getting What You Want by Being Who You Are''.

=== America's Talking channel ===
Ailes eventually made his way back to television, this time focusing on cable news. In 1993, he became president of [[CNBC]] and later created the [[America's Talking]] channel, which would eventually become [[MSNBC]]. He hosted an interview program on ''America's Talking''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/20/how-embattled-fox-news-ceo-roger-ailes-transformed-cable-news.html |title=How embattled Fox News CEO Roger Ailes transformed cable news|last=Castillo|first=Michelle|date=July 20, 2016 |website=[[CNBC]] |access-date=May 18, 2017}}</ref> In 1995, [[NBC]] hired a law firm to conduct an internal investigation after Ailes allegedly called NBC executive [[David Zaslav]] a "little fucking Jew prick." This was not confirmed as the reason for his departure.<ref name=ShermanNYMag>{{cite news |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/09/how-fox-news-women-took-down-roger-ailes.html?mid=nymag_press |title=The Revenge of Roger's Angels|first=Gabriel|last=Sherman |author-link=Gabriel Sherman|newspaper=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |publisher=[[New York Media]]|location=New York City|date=September 2, 2016}}</ref>

=== 20th Television/Fox News ===
Ailes was hired by [[News Corp]] chairman [[Rupert Murdoch]] in 1996 to become the CEO of [[Fox News]], effective on October 7.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/1996/10/07_mpp.html |title=Marketplace: News Archives|first=David|last=Brancaccio|date=October 7, 1996|magazine=Marketplace |access-date=March 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209005431/http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/1996/10/07_mpp.html |archive-date=December 9, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the departure of [[Lachlan Murdoch]] from [[News Corporation]], Ailes was named [[Chairman]] of the [[Fox Television Stations]] Group on August 15, 2005. Following his newest assignment, one of his first acts was canceling ''[[A Current Affair (U.S. TV series)|A Current Affair]]'' in September 2005 and replacing it with a new [[Geraldo Rivera]] show, ''[[Geraldo at Large]]'', which debuted on [[Halloween]], 2005. Rivera's show drew about the same ratings as ''A Current Affair''<ref name="wsj1">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115983508097280609?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=After Riding High With Fox News, Murdoch Aide Has Harder Slog|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=November 15, 2007|first=Julia|last=Angwin|author-link=Julia Angwin|date=October 3, 2006}}</ref> in January 2007.

Ailes hired former [[Viacom (1971-2005)|Viacom]] executive Dennis Swanson in October 2005 to be president of the Fox Television Stations Group. Additionally, there were changes in affiliates' news programs with the standardization of Fox News Channel-like graphics, redesigned studios, news-format changes, and the announcement of a new [[Breakfast television|morning television show]] called ''[[The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet]]'' to be produced by Fox News Channel.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html |title=Coming in January, A Fox Morning Show|last=Steinberg|first=Jacques|date=July 19, 2006|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 16, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In January 2011, 400 rabbis, including leaders from various branches of Judaism in the United States, published an open letter in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' on the UN-designated [[International Holocaust Remembrance Day|Holocaust Remembrance Day]]. They called on Rupert Murdoch to sanction Fox News commentator [[Glenn Beck]] for his use of [[the Holocaust]] to "discredit any individual or organization you disagree with."<ref name=Guardian /> An executive at Fox News rejected the letter, calling it the work of a "[[George Soros]]-backed [[left wing]] political organization."<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jan/27/rabbis-murdoch-fox-glenn-beck-holocaust|work=[[The Guardian]]|first=Ed|last=Pilkington |title=Rabbis warn Rupert Murdoch: Fox News and Glenn Beck 'using' Holocaust|date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> Ailes is also said to have once referred to Jewish critics of his as "left-wing rabbis."<ref>{{cite web|last=Pinkas|first=Alon |url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=205466&R=R4 |title=US rabbis pen letter criticizing Beck's Holocaust usage |website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=January 27, 2011 |access-date=April 7, 2011}}</ref>

Also in 2011, Ailes was criticized for referring to executives of the public radio network [[NPR]] as "[[Nazism|Nazis]]" for firing a news analyst, [[Juan Williams]], after Williams had made remarks considered by NPR to be offensive. Ailes apologized to a Jewish group, but not to NPR, for using the expression, writing to the [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL): "I was of course ad-libbing and should not have chosen that word, but I was angry at the time because of NPR's willingness to censor Juan Williams for not being liberal enough&nbsp;... My now considered opinion 'nasty, inflexible bigot' would have worked better."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/11/17/fox-news-chief-roger-ailes-blasts-national-public-radio-brass-as-nazis.html |title=Fox News Chief Blasts NPR 'Nazis'|first=Howard|last=Kurtz |website=[[Daily Beast]]|date=November 17, 2010}}</ref> The ADL welcomed and accepted the apology through its National Director, [[Abraham Foxman]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/press-center/press-releases/holocaust-nazis/adl-accepts-apology-from-fox.html |title=ADL Accepts Apology From Fox News CEO Roger Ailes For Inappropriate 'Nazi' Remark |website=Anti-Defamation League |access-date=May 18, 2017}}</ref> in a subsequent letter to ''The Wall Street Journal'' Foxman said that both Ailes and Beck were "pro-Israel stalwarts."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703956604576110392474830956|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|department=Letters to the Editor |title=The Good Rabbis Were Certainly Not Speaking for Us|date=February 1, 2011|first=Abraham H.|last=Foxman |authorlink=Abraham Foxman}}</ref>

In October 2012, Ailes's contract with Fox News was renewed for four years, through 2016. If completed, he would have served as head of Fox News Channel for 20 years. Salary terms were not made public, although his earnings for the 2012 fiscal year were $21 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=21000000|start_year=2012}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) inclusive of bonuses.<ref name="auto">{{cite magazine|first=Jeff|last=Bercovici |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2012/10/19/roger-ailes-signs-deal-to-stay-at-fox-news-through-2016 |title=Roger Ailes Signs Deal To Stay At Fox News Through 2016|magazine=[[Forbes]]|date=October 19, 2012 |access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> In addition to heading Fox News and chairing Fox Television Stations, Ailes also chaired [[20th Television]], [[MyNetworkTV]] and [[Fox Business Network]].<ref name="auto" />

==== Sexual harassment cases ====
In a book published in 2014, [[Gabriel Sherman]] alleged that, in the 1980s, Ailes offered a television producer a raise if she would sleep with him.<ref name=shermanbook /><ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/08/book-roger-ailes-_n_4558577.html |title=Shocking New Claims About Fox News Chief|first=Joanna|last=Zelman|date=January 7, 2014|work=[[Huffington Post]]}}</ref> Fox News denied the allegation and rejected the authenticity of Sherman's book.<ref name=":0" />

On July 6, 2016, former Fox News anchor [[Gretchen Carlson]] filed a [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit against Ailes; Carlson's allegations were the impetus for more than a dozen female employees at 21st Century Fox to step forward regarding their own experiences with Ailes's behaviour. Carlson alleged that she had been fired for rebuffing Ailes's advances.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/09/business/media/roger-ailes-arguing-gretchen-carlson-breached-contract-presses-for-arbitration.html |title=Roger Ailes, Arguing Gretchen Carlson Breached Contract, Presses for Arbitration|last=Koblin|first=John|date=July 8, 2016|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|issn=0362-4331 |access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/07/gretchen-carlson-files-lawsuit-against-roger-ailes-alleging-sexual-harassment-225162 |title=21st Century Fox launching 'internal review' at Fox News following Gretchen Carlson lawsuit|last=Gold|first=Hadas |author-link=Hadas Gold|date=July 6, 2016 |website=[[Politico]] |access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> Ailes, through his attorney, [[Susan Estrich]], denied the charges.<ref>{{Cite news|first =Erik|last=Wemple |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/11/14/roger-ailes-issues-grand-denial-of-sexual-harassment-charges-in-megyn-kellys-new-book |title=Roger Ailes issues grand denial of sexual harassment charges in Megyn Kelly's new book|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=November 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Paul |last=Farhi |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/feminist-hero-susan-estrich-fought-sexual-harassment-but-now-represents-roger-ailes-is-she-selling-out-or-standing-up/2016/08/04/904c22ce-5810-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html |title=What is feminist hero Susan Estrich doing representing Roger Ailes?|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> Three days later, Sherman reported accounts from six women (two publicly and four anonymously) who alleged sexual harassment by Ailes.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=http://www.nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/six-more-women-allege-ailes-sexual-harassment.html |title=Six More Women Allege That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Them|last=Sherman|first=Gabriel |author-link=Gabriel Sherman|date=July 9, 2016|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |access-date=July 9, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710005437/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/six-more-women-allege-ailes-sexual-harassment.html |archive-date=July 10, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In response, Ailes's counsel released a statement: "It has become obvious that Ms. Carlson and her lawyer are desperately attempting to litigate this in the press because they have no legal case to argue."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramirez |first1=Christina Dugan |title=6 More Women Accuse Roger Ailes of Sexual Harassment as His Lawyers Say Claims Are 'False' |url=https://people.com/tv/roger-ailes-and-gretchen-carlson-more-women-accuse-ailes-of-harassment/ |website=People |publisher=Dotdash Meredith |access-date=26 January 2023}}</ref>

==== Resignation ====
Ten days later, ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine reported that an internal review into Carlson's claims had expanded into a broader review of Ailes's stewardship. It also claimed Rupert Murdoch and his sons, [[Lachlan Murdoch|Lachlan]] and [[James Murdoch|James]], had seen enough information in the preliminary review to conclude that Ailes had to go. They disagreed on the timing, however; James wanted Ailes out immediately, while Rupert and Lachlan wanted to wait until after the [[2016 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/murdochs-have-decided-to-remove-roger-ailes.html |title=Murdochs Have Decided to Remove Roger Ailes — the Only Question Now Is When|magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|first=Gabriel|last=Sherman |author-link=Gabriel Sherman|date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref> On July 19, ''New York'' reported that [[Megyn Kelly]] told investigators Ailes made "unwanted sexual advances toward her" at the start of her career. The magazine also reported that the Murdochs had given Ailes an ultimatum—resign by August 1 or be fired.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/sources-kelly-said-ailes-sexually-harassed-her.html |title=Sources: Megyn Kelly Told Murdoch Investigators That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Her |website=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|first=Gabriel|last=Sherman |author-link=Gabriel Sherman|date=July 19, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref>

On July 21, 2016, Ailes resigned from Fox News, receiving about $40 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=40000000|start_year=2016}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}})<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Roger |title=Roger Ailes steps down as Fox News CEO |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/07/21/ailes-steps-down-fox-news-ceo-after-sexual-harassment-lawsuit/87402864/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> from 21st Century Fox (the then-parent company of [[20th Century Fox]] and Fox News) in an exit agreement. Rupert Murdoch succeeded him as chairman, and as interim CEO until the naming of a permanent replacement.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4413767/roger-ailes-fox-news-resigns-rupert-murdoch/?xid=homepage |title=Roger Ailes Resigns From Fox News Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations|date=July 21, 2016|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Molly|last=Redden |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/21/roger-ailes-leaves-fox-news-sexual-harassment-claims |title=Roger Ailes leaves Fox News in wake of sexual harassment claims|work=The Guardian|date=July 21, 2016}}</ref> In a letter to Murdoch,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/21/fox-news-confirms-that-roger-ailes-is-leaving-company.html |title=Roger Ailes resigns as CEO of Fox News |website=CNBC|first1=Anita|last1=Balakrishnan|first2=Michelle|last2=Castillo|date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2016}} Article with text of Ailes's resignation letter.</ref> Ailes wrote: "I will not allow my presence to become a distraction from the work that must be done every day to ensure that Fox News and Fox Business continue to lead our industry." Ailes was thanked for his work, without mention of the allegations. He continued to advise Murdoch and [[21st Century Fox]] through 2017 until his death.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-21/rupert-murdoch-to-succeed-ailes-as-head-of-fox-news-channel |title=Rupert Murdoch to Succeed Ailes as Head of Fox News Channel|agency=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|first=Lucas|last=Shaw|website=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>

===After 20th Television and Fox News===
Following Ailes' resignation, [[Andrea Tantaros]] claimed in August 2016 that she approached Fox News executives about Ailes' behavior towards her in 2015. She stated that her allegations resulted first in her being demoted, and then in her being taken off the air in April 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/08/andrea-tantaros-made-harassment-claims-against-roger-ailes.html |title=Fox News Host Andrea Tantaros Says She Was Taken Off the Air After Making Sexual-Harassment Claims Against Roger Ailes|first=Gabriel|last=Sherman |website=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=August 8, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> Tantaros filed a lawsuit against Fox News in August 2016 for sexual harassment, also accusing [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] and [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/08/23/andrea-tantaros-fox-news-scott-brown-harassment-outnumbered/ |title=Ex-Fox News Host Says Scott Brown Put His Hands On Her, Made Sexually Suggestive Comments|work=[[CBS News]]|date=August 23, 2016 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/media/story/2016/08/fox-news-andrea-tantaros-sues-for-sexual-harassment-004733#ixzz4IAd9Ek4o |title=Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros sues for sexual harassment|work=[[Politico]]|first=Kelsey|last=Sutton|date=August 23, 2016 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref>

On August 8, 2016, [[Shelley Ross]], writing for ''[[The Daily Beast]]'', described her encounter of sexual harassment with Ailes in 1981. She claimed that at a lunch meeting Ailes asked her, "When did you first discover you were sexy?" When Ross explained to Ailes that she found the conversation "very embarrassing," he responded that "the best expression of loyalty comes in the form of a sexual alliance."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ross|first1=Shelly |title=Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Me. I Thought I Was The First and Last |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/08/roger-ailes-sexually-harassed-me-i-thought-i-was-the-first-and-last.html|work=[[The Daily Beast]] |date=August 8, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> The next month, 21st Century Fox announced it had settled a lawsuit with Carlson over her allegations of harassment against Ailes.<ref name=NYTimes.Settles>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/07/business/media/fox-news-roger-ailes-gretchen-carlson-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-settlement.html |title=Fox Settles With Gretchen Carlson Over Roger Ailes Sex Harassment Claims|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 6, 2016 |access-date=September 7, 2016|first1=Michael M.|last1=Grynbaum|first2=John|last2=Koblin}}</ref> 21st Century Fox was also reported to have made separate settlements with at least two other women who made complaints about Ailes.<ref name=NYTimes.Settles />

In November 2016, Fox News anchor [[Megyn Kelly]] wrote in her book about the details of her sexual abuse allegations against Ailes. According to Kelly, when she first joined Fox News, Ailes would have meetings with her, during which he would make sexual remarks. Kelly alleges that he also tried to kiss her several times during a closed-door meeting, but she was able to get away and leave the office. After that incident in 2006, Kelly says that Ailes did not sexually harass her again. Then, in 2016, when Gretchen Carlson first made her sexual abuse allegations, 21st Century Fox pressured Kelly to defend Ailes, which she refused to do.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://people.com/books/megyn-kelly-memoir-9-things-we-learned-about-roger-ailes-alleged-sexual-harassment |title=Megyn Kelly's Shocking Memoir: 9 Things We Learned About Roger Ailes' Alleged Sexual Harassment|date=November 16, 2016|work=[[People Magazine|People]] |first=Brittany|last=King}}</ref>

In 2016, after he left Fox News, he became an adviser to [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|presidential campaign]], where he assisted with debate preparation.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Maggie|last1=Haberman|authorlink1=Maggie Haberman|first2=Ashley|last2=Parker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/us/politics/donald-trump-roger-ailes.html |title=Roger Ailes is advising Donald Trump ahead of Presidential election |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 16, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref>