CNN's Carl Bernstein on Roger Ailes Exit: 'I Don't Think Anybody's Salivating'

CNN

CNN commentator Carl Bernstein said the imminent exit of rival Fox News chief Roger Ailes didn’t leave anyone at his network “salivating,” instead calling the news leader a “nefarious genius.”

Legendary investigative journalist Bernstein told TheWrap, “Ailes is a nefarious genius. Probably the most influential non-office holding political figure of the last 20 years in America.”

Bernstein spoke to TheWrap at one of CNN’s several broadcast centers at the Republican National Convention, this one beside the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio, where the evening speeches had already begun.

Also Read: 5 Ways Roger Ailes' Fox News Exit Will Shake Up Cable News for Years to Come

Said Bernstein of Ailes: “His influence is enormous. He single-handedly, using sleight of hand and the phrase ‘fair and balanced’ – which it isn’t – in terms of the culture wars [created] as important an instrument as has existed in setting the agenda for the country. “

But the journalist insisted that CNN is not rejoicing at the widespread reports that Ailes’s exit is imminent, apparently demanded by James and Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert’s more liberal sons who now run the corporation.

“I don’t think anybody’s salivating. I don’t believe that at all,” he said.

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Bernstein also said that the cable networks had “grievously failed” to adequately report aggressively on Trump.

“It seems to me that all the networks — cable and the traditional networks — have grievously failed by not doing investigative documentaries about the candidates,” he said. “The vast reportorial failure is egregious. Even though they did great on the debates, covering the debates, analyzing the debates … do I think there was too much cutting to the theatrics on all of cable? Yes.”

However, Bernstein said he did not think CNN had sinned worse than other cable networks in this regard. “I don’t,” he said, when pressed on the matter. “There is a formula that should’ve been thought through a little more in terms of, ‘Hey, let’s wait and see what they [candidates] say and run it later.

Also Read: How Jeff Zucker Turned Donald Trump From a Reality Star to a Frontrunner (Video)

“Everybody in this cycle has been learning as we go around,” he continued. “We should’ve been doing more reporting, and by ‘we’ I mean all of cable and all the networks.

The Evolution of Roger Ailes, From 'The Mike Douglas Show' to Fox News Innovator (Photos)

The television executive has evolved from producing a talk-variety show to running one of the biggest satellite news television channel in the U.S.
Fox News
Born and raised in Ohio, Roger Ailes attended Ohio University as a young man, majoring in radio and television. During his time there, he served as station manager for the university's WOUB radio for two years.
Ohio University
Ailes worked his way up to executive producer on the syndicated daytime talk show "The Mike Douglas Show," which began as a local program in Cleveland before expanding nationwide.
Westinghouse Broadcasting Company
In 1968, Ailes got an Emmy nod when "The Mike Douglas Show" was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Daytime Programming, ultimately losing to NBC's "Today" show.
After first meeting Richard Nixon on the set of "The Mike Douglas Show," Ailes was hired by the then-presidential candidate to be his media advisor during the campaign, which marked his first professional foray into politics.
Ailes continued consulting on presidential campaigns, serving as media consultant for three successful Republicans: Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Ailes produced the famous "revolving door" ad for Bush, which painted Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis as soft on crime. The piece was widely regarded as the most influential ad of the political cycle.
In 1988, Ailes co-authored a self-help book with Jon Kraushar. "You Are the Message" shared Ailes' tips for effective communication and public performances.
Simon and Schuster
In 1992, Ailes served as executive producer on a syndicated late-night talk show hosted by right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh, which ran for four years before coming to an end in 1996.
Ailes Productions
Ailes was named president of CNBC in 1993, where he launched the new cable network America's Talking, which was shut down and replaced with future Fox News competitor MSNBC.
America's Talking
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch hired Ailes to serve as founding CEO and Chariman of the Fox News Channel in 1996, which soon grew to become the most popular cable news network in the country.
Getty Images
In 2016, Ailes was accused of sexual harassment by ousted Fox News host Gretchen Carlson. In July, Carlson filed a lawsuit against Ailes, claiming years of inappropriate behavior and sexual advances.
Getty Images
On July 20, 2016, Ailes was forced to resign from Fox News amid the growing outcry over the sexual harassment allegations.
Getty Images
Ailes died on May 18, 2017 at age 77.