Fred Ryan

{{short description|American newspaper executive and political consultant (born 1955)}}

{{about|the American media executive and political aide|the Irish playwright, journalist and socialist|Frederick Ryan}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Fred Ryan

| image = Fred_Ryan_19850220.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 1985

| office = Chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute

| term_start = 1995

| term_end =

| predecessor = Lodwrick Cook

| successor =

| birth_name = Frederick Joseph Ryan Jr.

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|4|12}}

| birth_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Genevieve Ryan

| education = University of Southern California (BA, JD)

| known_for = Founding CEO of Politico
President of Allbritton Communications
Publisher and CEO of The Washington Post

}}

Frederick Joseph Ryan Jr.{{cite web |title=Frederick Joseph Ryan Jr # 94552 - Attorney Licensee Search |url=http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Licensee/Detail/94552 |website=members.calbar.ca.gov}} (born April 12, 1955) is an American media entrepreneur, political analyst, author, and lawyer who served as the publisher and chief executive officer of The Washington Post from 2014 to 2023. He was the president and chief operating officer of Allbritton Communications Company and the founding chief executive officer and president of Politico. He served as the chief of staff for former President Ronald Reagan from 1989 to 1995 and is the chairman of the board of trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.[https://www.whitehousehistory.org/presidential-sites-summit/presidential-sites-summit-speakers/fredrick-j-ryan-jr] Fredrick J. Ryan, Jr. WHHA (en-US) Accessed: 10 January 2025

Early life

Ryan was born on April 12, 1955, in Tampa, Florida. His parents, Fred and Beth Ryan, were both military veterans.{{Cite web |title=Wall of Honor: Lt Col Fred J. Ryan |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/lt-col-fred-j-ryan |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=National Air & Space Museum}} He grew up on military bases in the US and abroad.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Education

In 1977, Ryan graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. In 1980, Ryan graduated with honors from the USC Law School.{{Cite web |title=Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. |url=https://www.reaganfoundation.org/about-us/board-of-trustees/frederick-j-ryan-jr?srsltid=AfmBOoocLj07DjBPlnhLlpE2xVAEQsBfMnKGGDRblXO63Rhf9_15DnF0 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute |language=en}}

Ryan received an honorary doctorate and delivered the commencement address at the Wake Forest University graduation ceremony in 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-04 |title=Frederick J. Ryan Jr. to deliver 2019 commencement address |url=http://news.wfu.edu/2019/04/04/frederick-j-ryan-jr-to-deliver-2019-commencement-address/ |access-date=2019-05-22 |website=Wake Forest News |language=en}}

Early career

Ryan worked as an attorney at the Los Angeles, California law firm of Hill, Farrer, and Burrill before joining 1980 Reagan-Bush presidential campaign.

White House years

Ryan began serving at the White House in February 1982 during the Reagan administration as Deputy Director of Presidential Appointments and Scheduling. He was appointed a year later to the position of Director of Presidential Appointments and Scheduling. In 1985, Ryan was appointed by the President to head the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives, as well as maintaining his position as Director of Presidential Appointments and Scheduling.

From 1982-1989, Ryan served as the Assistant to the President under Reagan.

When President Reagan left office in 1989, Ryan was selected to be his Chief of Staff. In this role, Ryan was responsible for the establishment and operation of Reagan's office in Century City.{{cite book|title=Ronald Reagan: The Wisdom and Humor of the Great Communicator|url=https://archive.org/details/ronaldreaganwisd00reag|url-access=registration|last=Reagan|first=Ronald|publisher=Collins Publishers San Francisco|year=1995|isbn=0-00-225121-3|editor=Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.|location=San Francisco|chapter=About the Editor}} Ryan worked on the design, fundraising, planning, and overseeing the construction of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.{{Cite web |last=Editors |first=The |date=2024-05-29 |title=Ronald Reagan's Library Legacy |url=https://daily.jstor.org/ronald-reagans-library-legacy/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=JSTOR Daily |language=en-US}} Ryan left his position as Chief of Staff in 1995.

Media career

Following his service as Chief of Staff to former President Reagan, Ryan became vice-chairman of the television, cable, and internet company Allbritton Communications. As President and COO of the company, he managed the broadcast and cable properties.{{cite web |url=http://www.hoovers.com/Allbritton-Communications/--ID__57181,target__company_management--/free-co-samples-index.xhtml?cm_ven=PAID&cm_cat=BUS&cm_pla=LEX&cm_ite=Allbritton_Communications|title=Company Management: Insight on Allbritton Communications Executives|accessdate= 2007-11-22|publisher=Hoovers}}

In 2007, Ryan served as the first president and chief executive officer of the website and newspaper Politico. During his tenure as president and CEO, Politico received its first Pulitzer Prize in 2012 and was recognized by Fast Company Magazine for Excellence as one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" in March 2010.{{Cite web |date=2010-07-03 |title=Most Innovative Companies {{!}} Fast Company |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/mic/2010 |access-date=2025-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703021714/http://www.fastcompany.com/mic/2010 |archive-date=3 July 2010 }} The May 2013 issue of Washington Life included Ryan in the "Power 100" list of the One Hundred Most Influential People in Washington.{{Cite web |date=2013-04-25 |title=Washington Life - May 2013 by Washington Life Magazine - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/washingtonlife/docs/wl0513_digital_cropped/34 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}

In September 2014, Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, named Ryan Publisher and CEO. During his tenure, The Post won 13 Pulitzer Prizes and was twice recognized by Fast Company as the "World's Most Innovative Media Company." by Fast Company {{Cite news |date=February 20, 2018 |title=The Washington Post named 8th most innovative company in the world for 2018 by Fast Company |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/wp/2018/02/20/the-washington-post-named-8th-most-innovative-company-in-the-world-for-2018-by-fast-company/#}} {{Cite news |date=May 8, 2023 |title=The Washington Post wins three 2023 Pulitzer Prizes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2023/05/08/washington-post-wins-three-2023-pulitzer-prizes/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}} He guided the publication through multiple years of growth and profitability{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2018/01/09/washington-post-1515418495|title=Scoop: WaPo hits 2nd year of profitability, plans expansion|first=Sara|last=Fischer|date=January 9, 2018|website=Axios}} while significantly expanding its readership and subscriber base.{{Cite web |last=Stelter |first=Brian |date=September 26, 2017 |title=Washington Post digital subscriptions soar past 1 million mark |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/09/26/media/washington-post-digital-subscriptions/index.html}}

Ryan has advocated for the importance of independent journalism. He produced a Super Bowl ad featuring Tom Hanks to highlight the work of journalists worldwide.{{Cite news |last=Judkis |first=Maura |date=February 3, 2019 |title=The Washington Post airs its first Super Bowl spot |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-washington-post-creates-its-first-super-bowl-spot-narrated-by-tom-hanks/2019/02/01/f1984a3a-263a-11e9-ad53-824486280311_story.html}} Ryan also founded the Press Freedom Partnership following the killing of Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul and the detention of Austin Tice in Syria.{{Cite news |date=August 13, 2020 |title=The Washington Post Press Freedom Partnership to launch campaign dedicated to the case of detained American freelance journalist Austin Tice |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2020/08/13/washington-post-press-freedom-partnership-launch-campaign-dedicated-case-detained-american-freelance-journalist-austin-tice/}}

To expand The Post's reach, Ryan formed created a joint venture with Creative Artists Agency and Imagine Entertainment to produce films based on its journalism.{{Cite news |date=June 14, 2022 |title=The Washington Post and Imagine Entertainment form strategic partnership |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2022/06/14/washington-post-imagine-entertainment-form-strategic-partnership/}}

After 9 years, Ryan stepped down from his role and helped launch the Ronald Reagan Center on Civility and Democracy.{{Cite news |date=June 12, 2023 |title=Fred Ryan, Publisher and CEO, announces decision to step down from The Washington Post and lead new civility initiative |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2023/06/12/fred-ryan-publisher-ceo-announces-decision-step-down-washington-post-lead-new-civility-initiative/}}{{Cite news |last=Beaujon |first=Andrew |date=June 12, 2023 |title=Fred Ryan Will Leave the Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2023/06/12/fred-ryan-will-leave-the-washington-post/}}{{Cite news |date=Jun 12, 2023 |title=Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute Announces New Center on Public Civility |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ronald-reagan-foundation-and-institute-announces-new-center-on-public-civility-301848454.html}}{{Cite news |last=Devaney |first=Robert |date=August 3, 2023 |title=Farewell for Post's Fred Ryan |url=https://georgetowner.com/articles/2023/08/03/farewell-for-posts-fred-ryan/}}

Reagan Foundation

In 1995, Ryan became the chairman of the board of trustees for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. He manages the foundation and takes part in Reagan Presidential Library events, with a mission of "preserving Ronald Reagan's legacy."{{cite web|url=http://www.reaganfoundation.org/airforceone/af1_ways_pr.asp |title=Presidential Priority: Education and Endowing the Legacy |accessdate=2007-11-22 |publisher=Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121034101/http://www.reaganfoundation.org/airforceone/af1_ways_pr.asp |archivedate=2007-11-21 |url-status = dead}}

Under Ryan's chairmanship, the Reagan Foundation obtained Air Force One, the Presidential Aircraft that had flown Reagan and six other Presidents of the United States.{{Cite web |title=The Airborne Ambassador |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-airborne-ambassador |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=WHHA (en-US) |language=en}} Through funds contributed by his friend T. Boone Pickens and other donors, the Air Force One Museum was built at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA. Ryan also led the launch of the Ronald Reagan Institute, a Washington-based policy center affiliated with the Reagan Presidential Foundation.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Ryan made a personal contribution to the Reagan Presidential Library by purchasing the Ronald Reagan Pub in County Tipperary, Ireland while visiting it on a family vacation in 2004.{{Cite news |last=O'Driscoll |first=Sean |date=2005-10-01 |title=Raising the Bar: interior of Ballyporeen pub booked for Reagan library in California |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/raising-the-bar-interior-of-ballyporeen-pub-booked-for-reagan-library-in-california-1.499674 |access-date=2025-02-26 |newspaper=The Irish Times}} The working pub was completely disassembled and transported by container ship to Los Angeles where it was reassembled under the wing of Air Force One at the Reagan Presidential Library. Presidential journalist, Hugh Sidey, joined in for the formal dedication of the Ronald Reagan Pub at the Library. In making the gift, Ryan expressed his pride in his Irish heritage which may account for the reason he and his wife host a large St. Patrick's Day party at their Potomac, Maryland home each year.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Ryan led the team that organized the national tribute and funeral for Ronald Reagan in June 2004. He was a pallbearer at President Reagan's request.

Ryan headed the year-long celebration of Ronald Reagan's 100th Birthday in 2011. President Obama appointed him to the bipartisan Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission created by an act of Congress. Ryan was elected Chairman of the commission by the bipartisan group of United States Senators and Members of Congress that served on the commission with him. Events were held across the country and in major European Capitals celebrating the impact of Reagan policies in promoting freedom and democracy.

In the years following the Reagan Administration, Ryan was close to Nancy Reagan and is said to have advised her on important matters.

White House Historical Association

Ryan has served as a director of the White House Historical Association since 2001 and from 2012-2022, he served as Chairman of White House Historical Association.

As part of the "Campaign for White House History", Ryan worked with First Ladies Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, Melania Trump, and Jill Biden as well as former First Family members of both political parties to provide funding for educational and preservation projects for the White House.

David M. Rubenstein, former White House aide and philanthropist, supported this effort through a $10 million gift to create the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History. Another major project of the fundraising campaign was the White House Visitors Center.{{cite web |url=

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/about/board-of-directors |website=Whitehousehistory.org |title=The White House Historical Society Board of Directors |accessdate=August 16, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/rubenstein-center |title=David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History |accessdate=August 16, 2018}}

Recognition and Awards

Ryan's work in journalism and First Amendment advocacy was recognized with Adweek's "Publishing Executive of the Year Award" in 2017,{{Cite news |last=Ariens |first=Chris |date=October 29, 2017 |title=Fred Ryan and The Washington Post Are Reshaping the Future of the News |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-fred-ryan-aims-to-make-the-washington-post-a-national-brand/}} the "2018 Leadership Award" from the International Women's Media Foundation,{{Cite news |date=November 1, 2018 |title=Remarks from Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan at the International Women's Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Awards |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2018/11/02/remarks-publisher-ceo-fred-ryan-international-womens-media-foundation-courage-journalism-awards/}} and the "2019 Freedom of Speech Award" for advancing free speech and the First Amendment by the Media Institute.{{Cite news |date=July 11, 2019 |title=Fred Ryan of The Washington Post and Caroline Beasley of Beasley Media Group To Be Honored at Media Institute 'Free Speech America' Gala |url=https://www.mediainstitute.org/2019/07/11/fred-ryan-of-the-washington-post-and-caroline-beasley-of-beasley-media-group-to-be-honored-at-media-institute-free-speech-america-gala/}}

His other awards and recognition include the University of Southern California Alumni Award,{{Cite web| title=Asa V. Call Alumni Achievement Award - Past Recipients | url=https://alumni.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AA22-PAST-HONOREES-BY-ALPHA.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814040445/https://alumni.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AA22-PAST-HONOREES-BY-ALPHA.pdf | archive-date=2022-08-14}} the French Chevalier of Arts and Letters, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, Commandeur du Ouissam Alaouite of Morocco and "Lion" of Venice.

Wine Writer and Author

Ryan authored Wine and the White House: A History (1st Ed. 2021, 2nd Ed. 2024) for the White House Historical Association.{{Cite web|url=https://shop.whitehousehistory.org/products/wine-and-the-white-house-a-history-second-edition|title=Wine and the White House: A History, second edition|website=White House Historical Association}} The book was recognized with 14 major book awards including the OIV Award from France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oiv.int/news/press?page=9|title=Press | OIV|website=www.oiv.int}} His wine writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Wall Street Journal.{{Cite news |last=Ryan Jr. |first=Frederick J. |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Five Best: Books on Wine |url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/five-best-books-on-wine-5c8a1188?st=o1fhr0ulripzx9a&reflink=article_email_share}}

Ryan is the author of Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator (2001, Harper Collins) and Ronald Reagan, the Wisdom and Humor of the Great Communicator (1995, Harper Collins). He also served as executive producer of the highly acclaimed documentary "The Reagan Years" (1988).