News of the imminent departure of Roger Ailes from Fox News was almost as hot a topic as Donald Trump among the hundreds of journalists attending the Republican National Convention this week.
Many noted the irony of the timing, coming in the midst of the GOP gathering in the city where the one-time media advisor to Republican presidents got his start as a producer on "The Mike Douglas Show." Ailes grew up in Warren, Ohio, a mid-sized city about 60 miles east of Cleveland.
Current and former Fox News employees expressed a mix of sadness, surprise and dismay at Ailes' swift fall from his perch as chairman-CEO of the hugely profitable 21st Century Fox division that he built from scratch over the past 20 years.
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Ailes' position is said to have became untenable after he was sued for sexual harassment by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson earlier this month. That led to other women coming forward with accounts of alleged harassment from Ailes, most dating back decades. Fox initiated an internal review following Carlson's lawsuit. As of Wednesday, Ailes was believed to be negotiating an exit deal with 21st Century Fox.
One current Fox News employee said the whole affair had been "a whirlwind" and "incredibly sad." The source described Ailes as a colorful, dynamic, engaging personality whose interests and instincts helped drive the cultural conversation for decades. His influence on contemporary media and TV news cannot be overstated.
"He has had an enormous impact on cable television as a whole, not just what he has done at Fox, which is defining the genre, (but) defining how the news is presented and packaged," said Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee. "That legacy will remain intact."
A Fox News alum noted the heavy symbolism of Ailes' fall from power starting in earnest during the convention crowning Trump as the GOP's contender for the White House.
Trump is the next-generation candidate who is adept at using all the social media tools at his disposal -- he's not as reliant on the mainstream media to get his message out. And the Trump campaign defied the orthodoxy of the past 20 years that GOP candidates were friendly to the conservative-leaning hosts and commentators on Fox News and vice versa. Trump famously waged a battle with Fox News and its most high-profile anchor, Megyn Kelly, for months until the two came to terms last May.
Another coincidence that struck longtime Ailes watchers was the fact that the Trump campaign in the past few weeks has adopted the "law and order candidate" sloganeering that helped Richard Nixon win the White House in 1968. Ailes was a big part of that campaign, having steered the TV strategy for Nixon after meeting him during an appearance on "Mike Douglas." Ailes' mastery of TV advertising to sell Nixon to a country nervous about urban unrest and the counterculture movement among Baby Boomers is detailed in Joe McGinniss' classic book on the 1968 race, "The Selling of the President."
Ailes is routinely described by friends and colleagues as a media visionary. He's revered for his lack of pretense, his willingness to speak his mind and his competitive zeal. "He is the best, most entertaining dinner date you can ask for, even if you disagree with him on everything," said a former Fox News exec.
Fox News insiders acknowledged a degree of shock in the idea of the company running without Ailes at the helm. He's such a ubiquitous and patriarchal figure that many can't imagine anyone else in charge.
There's been speculation about an exodus of talent after Ailes departs. Bill O'Reilly, host of Fox News' top-rated "The O'Reilly Factor," has hinted that he may be stepping down when his contract expires next year. Kelly is in the midst of contract negotiations.
Kelly refused to comment on Ailes as she fought her way through a crowd of selfie-seeking fans after she left the Fox News broadcast booth Tuesday night at the Quicken Loans Arena. The four-day GOP fete will conclude on Thursday when Trump accepts the nomination.
Bret Baier and Tucker Carlson were among the Fox News talent at the convention who declined to comment Wednesday when asked about Ailes.
Other news personalities were also reluctant to comment in detail given that there has been no official confirmation about Ailes' status at Fox.
"I don't know what's true, what is good information, what is bad information," said MSNBC's Joe Scarborough. "(The news) breaking this week is crazy -- again, if it is true."