80. Giuliani’s disgraced former police commissioner Jim Fitzgerald, “Bernard Kerik Pleads Not Guilty to Corruption Charges,” Associated Press, Nov. 9, 2007.
81. Regan would later allege Russ Buettner, “Fox News Chief Is Said to Urge Lying in Inquiry,” New York Times, Feb. 25, 2011. In February 2011, The New York Times broke the news that Regan had claimed in court papers that Ailes was the unnamed News Corp executive who had urged her to lie to investigators to protect Rudy Giuliani’s presidential prospects. Blogs speculated that, now that Ailes’s name was public, he opened himself up to being indicted on obstruction of justice charges. “Roger was really scared,” a Fox executive said. “I knew because he just never talked about the news.” News Corp defended him, informing the Times that the company had a letter from Regan stating that Ailes did not intend to influence her role in the investigation. When the scandal blew over without any indictment materializing, Ailes returned to his blustery self. He called the Times a “bunch of lying scum” during a speech.
82. Susan Estrich Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
83. Peter Johnson Sr. Gabriel Sherman, “Meet Roger Ailes’s Fox News Mouthpiece,” New York, Oct. 25, 2012.
84. “He’s the talent” Author interview with an executive involved in the negotiations with Judith Regan.
85. “Susan acted as” Author interview with a person involved in the negotiations.
86. “It’s embarrassing” Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
87. “I need to know” Author interview with a person involved in the negotiations.
88. On January 25 Patricia Hurtado and Gillian Wee, “News Corp. Settles Suit by Judith Regan over Firing,” Bloomberg News, Jan. 25, 2008. See also Bob Van Voris and Patricia Hurtado, “Regan Accused Lawyer Dreier of Disclosing Settlement,” Bloomberg News, Dec. 10, 2008.
89. He dropped out Michael Powell and Michael Cooper, “Resurgent McCain Is Florida Victor; Giuliani Far Back,” New York Times, Jan. 30, 2008.
90. Years later Author interview with Judith Regan.
91. CNN’s prime-time audience Molly Willow, “TV Ratings Upset,” Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, Feb. 21, 2008. See also Anthony Crupi, “Turner Nets Defy Soft Market,” Mediaweek, Nov. 6, 2008.
92. Wolf Blitzer Paul J. Gough, “In ’08, Big Headlines for Everybody,” Hollywood Reporter, Dec. 31, 2008.
93. In the fall Gabriel Sherman, “Chasing Fox,” New York, Oct. 11, 2010.
94. Griffin debuted a new tagline Linda Moss, “MSNBC Votes to Boost Politics Coverage,” Multichannel News, Oct. 8, 2007.
95. “Roger felt that as Obama emerged” Author interview with a person close to Roger Ailes.
96. The day after Clinton roared David Bauder, “Chris Matthews Says He Wronged Clinton by Tying Her Success to Husband’s Infidelities,” Associated Press, Jan. 18, 2008.
97. At Clinton campaign headquarters Author interview with a former campaign staffer for Hillary Clinton.
98. On the evening of February 7 Howard Kurtz, “Chelsea Remark Earns MSNBC Correspondent a Suspension,” Washington Post, Feb. 9, 2008.
99. In early March ABC News, Nightline (transcript), March 5, 2008.
100. On March 19 John Cook, “The Anti-Obama Emails Roger Ailes Forwards to His Underlings,” Gawker, April 19, 2012, http://gawker.com/5903082/the-anti+obama-emails-roger-ailes-forwards-to-his-underlings.
101. O’Reilly and Hannity did segments The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel (transcript), March 19, 2008. See also Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel (transcript), March 19, 2008.
102. Susan Estrich Author interview with a person familiar with the situation.
103. an attack by John Edwards “Edwards Urges Fellow Democrats to Reject Murdoch’s Money,” Washington Post, Aug. 3, 2007.
104. the company had paid Edwards Nedra Pickler, “Murdoch’s News Corp. Says Edwards Benefited from Book Deal with the Media Company,” Washington Post, Aug. 3, 2007.
105. In May The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel (transcript), May 1, 2008.
106. “She made some kind of compact” Author interview with former White House communications director Anita Dunn.
107. Another senior Obama Author interview with a senior adviser to President Barack Obama.
108. After clinching Michael Wolff, “Tuesdays with Rupert,” Vanity Fair, Oct. 2008. See also Howard Kurtz, “Obama Met with News Executives,” Washington Post, Sept. 3, 2008; author interview with Stephen Rosenfield, who recounted Ailes’s description of the meeting.
109. A few weeks later Sherman, “The Elephant in the Green Room.”
110. Ailes responded CQ Transcripts, “Senator Barack Obama Delivers Remarks at a Campaign Event” (transcript), July 2, 2008.
111. He later said Sherman, “The Elephant in the Green Room.”
112. “He doesn’t have the charisma” Author interview with a former Fox News executive.
113. In January “New York Post Endorses Obama for President, Snubs Home-Town Senator,” Associated Press, Jan. 30, 2008.
114. In a preview of Wolff, “Tuesdays with Rupert.”
115. “Is this true?” Gabriel Sherman, “The Raging Septuagenarian,” New York, Feb. 28, 2010.
116. Murdoch assured Matea Gold, “Roger Ailes Extends Fox Deal,” Los Angeles Times, Nov. 21, 2008.
117. “That was the beginning” Author interview with an adviser to Rupert Murdoch.
118. “As Ginsberg was blowing up” Author interview with a former Fox executive.
119. Any speculation “Post Endorses John McCain,” New York Post, Sept. 8, 2008.
120. Within the next year Tim Arango, “An Adviser to Murdoch Is Leaving News Corp.,” New York Times, Nov. 17, 2009.
121. “Roger took credit” Author interview with a Fox News executive.
122. “She hit a home run” Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
123. During Palin’s speech Anthony Crupi, “RNC Coverage Lifts Fox News Channel to Ratings Win,” Mediaweek, Sept. 9, 2008.
124. He was intensely interested Sherman, “The Elephant in the Green Room.”
125. Ailes didn’t know Walshe Author interview with a person familiar with the situation.
126. He called Suzanne Scott Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
127. Ratings for his CNN Robyn-Denise Yourse, “Arts Etc.; Tuning in to TV,” Washington Times, Oct. 21, 2008. See also Brian Stelter, “For Conservative Radio, It’s a New Dawn, Too,” New York Times, Dec. 22, 2008.