How we will remember Roger Ailes, the legendary Fox News founder

The sudden death of veteran American television executive Roger Eugene Ailes, has brought unprecedented pain to both friends and foes.

Image: Roger Ailes

Ailes will be remembered as a former Chairman, founder and CEO of Fox News.

The larger-than-life media consultant also led Fox Television Stations Group until he resigned in July 2016 following claims that he sexually exploited some female colleagues but despite the allegations against Ailes, Americans will remember him as the strongest link in its political history since the days of Richard Nixon to Donald Trump.

Among the list of prominent American politicians who benefited from Ailes’ consultancy services are Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush, and Rudy Giuliani. The 77-year-old was an adviser to Mr. Trump, whose debate materials he also prepared in the run-up to last year’s presidential election held on 8 November, 2016.

The death of this man who reshaped cable news, sent shockwaves throughout the media world yesterday 18 May, 2017.

Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, a team of equally popular conservative anchors who grew in the steps of Ailes while he transformed news broadcasting in the 90s and 2000s, will forever be thankful that they lived in his days.

“The list of legendary Americans whom Roger helped is long and impressive,” O’Reilly wrote in his tribute which was published as a USA Today op-ed.

“From Ronald Reagan to George Bush, the elder, to Rush Limbaugh, Ailes gave them all blunt advice that led them to success. And it was that bluntness that made his life difficult, as enemies accumulated — some armed with a brutal hatred…

“I was there at the beginning,” he continued. “When Roger offered me an hourly program, I asked if he’d like to see a written outline.

“Ailes scoffed, told me to be fair and tough but, most of all, not to screw it up. I knew that I had to meet his personal challenge: work hard, be honest in my opinions. Do not seek to curry favor.

“Not once in almost 20 years did Roger Ailes order me to say anything on the air. I had total independence. In private, I sometimes challenged his orthodoxy. I wish I had taped that.”

O’Riley confessed that technological advancement impacted negatively on Ailes’ relationship with people he trusted, adding that the deceased was always a rock he could run to whenever the tides rose high.

“Roger Ailes experienced that hatred and it killed him,” he continued. “That is the truth. But he would not want to be remembered that way. He did both good and bad in his life and in that, he has something in common with every human being.”

“Today America lost one of its great patriotic warriors. Roger Ailes. For Decades RA’s has impacted American politics and media,” Sean Hannity wrote.

“He [Ailes] has dramatically and forever changed the political and the media landscape singlehandedly for the better.”

 Image shows Roger Ailes and Sean Hannity.

In his tribute, Hannity described his mentor as “a true American original,” and a great strategist who was “always five steps ahead of his opponents — playing chess while they were busy with checkers.”

In his words: “On a personal note, were it not for Roger Ailes, I would not be the person I am today.

“In 1996 he took a huge risk on an inexperienced, young, local radio talk show host in Atlanta.

“To this day I have no earthly idea why I was hired and not fired early on, as I had little television experience when I was hired by FNC, as old tapes humbly remind me.

“He [Ailes] saw something in me and many others he hired that we never saw in ourselves, and he forever changed the trajectory of thousands of peoples lives.”

Here’s what other conservatives have posted on Twitter in honor of the fallen hero, mentor, diplomat, newsman, and father-of-one:

Ailes’ death comes as a shock to many who felt his presence in the world but a few number of liberals have shown joy in his exit.

A Twitter user with the handle @gabrielsherman confirmed there’s lack of respect in some quarters, especially from those who hated the deceased for his incredible exploits in politics as well as those who hold grudges for his alleged sexual harassment cases.

Image: Roger Ailes