Fox's Roger Ailes Offered Condoleezza Rice 'Off The Record' Help During Bush Years

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According to Gawker, Fox News president Roger Ailes sent then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a handwritten note back in March of 2005, offering 'off the record' help if she needed any. Gawker's John Cook writes that he was able to obtain the letter from the State Department under the Freedom of Information Act.

Here it is:

Madam Secretary:

Great first month. You handled hearing beautifully. If I can be of help off the record'just call.

Warm Regards,

Roger

Rice's response was, in turn, fairly general and professional.

Cook reached out to Fox News to ask whether Rice ever took Ailes up on his offer. The network's short answer? 'Ugh.' The slightly longer answer is, basically, 'No, plus Ailes offers people help all the time.'

Mr. Ailes provided no assistance whatsoever and there was no mention of the Bush administration. Secretary Rice never took him up on the offer which was a personal media-related one. As the head of a news organization, Roger speaks to powerful people from the left and the right all the time ' if every other news chief wants to release their off the record correspondence and conversations, Roger will too.

h/t Gawker