Edward J. Rollins

Senior Fellow

Ed Rollins has long been considered one of America's premier political strategists and communication experts. He has managed political campaigns for candidates and initiatives in this country and around the world. He also specializes in image and crisis campaigns for corporations. Mr. Rollins managed President Ronald Reagan's 49 state landslide reelection campaign in 1984. President Reagan won more electoral votes than any President in history. He also ran the campaign to defeat the first sitting House Speaker, Tom Foley, in 1994. Mr. Rollins has had major managerial roles in eight other Presidential campaigns including most recently serving as National Chairman of the Huckabee for President Campaign in 2008. Mr. Rollins has served in the administrations of four United States Presidents (Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Bush; 41) including serving two tours of duty at the highest level of the White House as Assistant to the President. He directed both the White House Office of Political Affairs and the White Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for President Reagan. He was also President Reagan’s Deputy Chief of Staff in the second term.

His other government experience includes directing congressional relations at three cabinet agencies, (Transportation, Commerce and FEMA) and was also the Deputy Supertendent and Dean of the faculty of the National Fire Academy.

Mr. Rollins was the first non member of Congress to serve as the Chairman, and Chief Executive officer of the National Republican Congressional Committee (the political arm of the House Republicans) and served as the Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the National Republican Committee for four years.

He has also run winning campaigns in Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Brazil, Costa Rica and Columbia.

Mr. Rollins is a Senior Political analyst for CNN news. He also appeared regularly on Meet the Press; Face the Nation, This Week, Nightline, Crossfire, Hardball, and Larry King and many other TV talk shows. Mr. Rollins was a University Administrator before his career in politics serving as Assistant to the President of California State University at Chico and as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Washington University in Saint Louis, Mo. where he also directed and taught a special program in Urban Affairs. He is a graduate of California State University, Chico. His memoir, Bare Knuckles and Back Rooms, was the number one selling political book in America in 1996 and made the top of the New York Times and every other national best seller list. Mr. Rollins lives in New York City, with his wife Shari and 12 year old daughter, Lily.