March 2014 Annual Dinner
On March 6, 2014 FORR was pleased to host Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., Chief of Staff for former United States President Ronald Reagan (1989–1995), and currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and President and COO of Allbritton Communications Company. Fred is also the founding CEO and President of POLITICO, the politically focused website and newspaper that has come to dominate coverage of national politics, Congress and the White House. In 2010, POLITICO was recognized by Fast Company Magazine for one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" and its excellence continues.
Fredrick J. Ryan, Jr.
On March 6, 2014 FORR welcomed Reaganite Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., Publisher of the Washington Post and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. Fred was a Assistant to President Ronald Reagan in the White House from 1985 to 1988 and was Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan from 1988 until 1995. He was President and Chief Operating Officer of Albritton Communications from 1995 through 2013, in while at Albritton was CEO and founder and POLITIC, one of leading political website and newspapers covering politics, Congress and the White House. POLITICO, was recognized by Fast Company Magazine for Excellence as one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies” and Fred Ryan was named to the "Power 100" list of the One Hundred Most Influential People in Washington. The success of their cross-platform coverage of political news won the prestigious "Walter Cronkite Award" in 2013 for Politico under Ryan's management.
Fred Ryan headed the team that organized the moving national tribute and funeral for Ronald Reagan in June 2004 and was a Pall Bearer at President Reagan's request. He also 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 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.
Ryan is the editor of "Ronald Reagan: The Wisdom and Humor of the Great Communicator," published by Harper Collins in 1995, and "Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator", published by Harper Collins in 2001. He was also Executive Producer of the highly acclaimed video of the Reagan Presidency, entitled "The Reagan Years".