Fleischer, Ari (1960—)

Lawrence Ari Fleischer was born in Pound Ridge, New York. Fleischer was the White House press secretary for George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. A graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont in 1982 with a degree in political science, Fleischer's career as a press secretary began shortly thereafter for an unsuccessful Republican congressional candidate, Jon Fossil, in New York. Fleischer also worked as press secretary for New York Congressman Norman Lent.

After serving as the field director for the National Republican Congressional Committee from 1985 to 1988, he worked a short time for New York Congressman Joseph DioGuardi as press secretary. Fleischer worked as press secretary for New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici from 1989 to 1994. During U.S. President George H. W. Bush's 1992 reelection campaign, Fleischer served as deputy communications director.

After his stints as press secretary for various Republican candidates and representatives, Fleischer then served as spokesman for the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee until 1999. In 1999, Fleischer worked on the presidential campaign of Elizabeth Dole until she dropped out. He then joined George W. Bush's presidential campaign as the primary spokesman and communications advisor. He became the press secretary after Bush won the election. The role of White House press secretary mainly entails delivering daily White House briefings and serving as the primary spokesperson for the president. He served during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the 2001 anthrax attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster. Fleischer announced his resignation in May 2003 and was replaced by Scott McClellan in July 2003.

Fleischer is a member of the board of directors for the Republican Jewish Coalition. He formed [Page 248]Ari Fleischer Communications, his own consulting firm, after leaving the White House in 2003. He has also worked as a speaker since serving as White House press secretary and has written a book about his experiences, Taking Heat: The President, the Press, and My Years in the White House (2005).