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Former White House Press Secretary, President Ari Fleischer Communications, and FOX News Contributor Ari Fleischer spoke at Northern Oklahoma College Tuesday night about the state of politics in America and the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
Tuesday’s speech was provided by the Renfro Endowed Lectureship Program.
In his political career, Fleischer said the most meaningful part was his time as President Bush’s press secretary.
“It was an amazing time for me personally,” he said. I would drive to work, park my car, enter the west wing and go to my office. My office was 30 feet from the Oval Office and 30 feet from the Podium of the briefing room. I loved every day I worked for President Bush because I believed in him and what he stood for and I hope that was expressed when I did my job every day.”
Fleischer said the press room at the White House is unlike any other.
“There are 48 seats in the press room and they are filled with all antagonists,” he joked. “They were all taking the other side than President Bush and it was up to me to deliver the president’s message and I loved every minute of it.”
He spoke fondly of traveling the world and seeing great places filled with amazing people.
“Being in Normandy (World War II Memorial) was definitely something I won’t forget,” he said. “The press secretary is afforded a lot of great opportunities and I am so thankful.”
In regards to politics, Fleischer commented that the Democratic and Republican parties have changed over the years.
“People who used to be Democrats (lower income, less educated) have now become Republicans and those of higher incomes and better educated have become Democrats. It’s fascinating what has happened in today’s politics,” he said.
“That is something we need to be aware heading to the 2024 election,” he said.
Fleischer then spoke of the 2024 election which he sees will be very close.
“The election boils down to seven (swing) states,” he said. “It’s going to be a close race that can go either way.”
In foreign policy, Fleischer said the Middle East is the most important crisis for the United States going forward.
“We need to support Israel anyway we can to defeat Hamas in Gaza,” he said.
Interestingly enough, Fleischer was raised a liberal democrat in New York state.
“I walked into Middlebury College a liberal democrat and left as a conservative. I became a conservative the first time I paid taxes,” Fleischer joked.
As a former White House Press Secretary, Ari Fleischer was the primary spokesperson for President George W. Bush and delivered the daily White House briefings from 2001 to 2003. He served as spokesman during the historic presidential recount, September 11th, two wars and the anthrax attack.
His best-selling book, Taking Heat, details his years in the White House and reached #7 on The New York Times best-seller list. His most recent book, Suppression, Deception, Snobbery, and Bias: Why the Press Gets So Much Wrong – And Just Doesn’t Care was released in July 2022.
Since leaving the White House, he manages Ari Fleischer Communications, a company that helps corporations and sports organizations with their communication and media needs.
He has worked for a variety of major companies and leading sports leagues, teams, schools, and individual athletes as well. He graduated from Middlebury College.
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