Sig Rogich
Encyclopedia
Sigmund “Sig” Rogich is an Iceland
ic/American
businessman and was a senior media consultant to leading Republican candidates for office, under Presidents Ronald Reagan
and George H.W. Bush. He was senior campaign consultant for former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and incumbent Governor Jim Gibbons.
Rogich is president of The Rogich Communications Group, a national and international business facilitator, public relations, and crisis management firm. He also founded Las Vegas
based R&R Advertising, Nevada’s largest advertising and marketing firm, and has been closely involved with Las Vegas marketing for more than 30 years. His entertainment and business clients have included Frank Sinatra, Donald Trump, Mike Tyson, Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian and Sheldon Adelson among others.
When he began working in the West Wing of the White House as an Assistant to the President for the first President Bush in 1989, he said: "I know it sounds corny for someone to tell you that they're patriotic and that they feel honored to do something like this . . . but I believe deeply in this President because he's all of that and more. It's just an honor to serve here." (His title in 1989-92 was special assistant to the President for activities and initiatives.)
Born in Iceland, he started "dirt poor," as his mother, Ranny, told the New York Times in 1989, when the family lived in public housing and his father worked in a metals factory outside Las Vegas. His father went on to be a foreman at a company that made neon casino signs, and his sister was a dancer in a review that toured with Sammy Davis Jr. Sig Rogich worked odd jobs from the time he was small, and as he got older toiled as a busboy at casinos in Las Vegas, a bellboy in Lake Tahoe hotels and a folk singer in San Francisco bistros. By the time he turned 30, he was a multimillionaire, and one who has quietly sent money to children in need of operations when he reads about them in newspapers.:
"I try to look at things from an historical point of view because I think that gives greater impact to the message," said Rogich, who collects first-edition books, papers and photographs involving his two heroes, Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt. "It's important to look for the unusual setting. The Camp David accords might not have been as memorable if they were simply the Washington accords," Rogich said.
Rogich is a longtime close associate and adviser to Paul Laxalt
, United States Senator from Nevada and three times chairman of the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan
. In 1984, Rogich was co-director of the "Tuesday Team," an advertising agency created specifically to produce campaign ads for the re-election campaign of President Reagan (a.k.a. Reagan-Bush '84). His title was National Advertising Director.
In 1987 and 1988 Rogich, working under chief media adviser Roger Ailes
as Director of Advertising, personally directed the shooting of most of the television ads for the George H.W. Bush primary campaign (Bush for President) and general-election campaign (Bush-Quayle '88), as well as others for the Republican National Committee.
These included the famous "Revolving Door" spot for Bush-Quayle '88 (shot with prisoners at a Utah penitentiary), which highlighted the crime record of Democratic nominee, Gov. Michael Dukakis
. Rogich is also credited with devising the Bush ads that prominently featured Michael Dukakis
cruising in a tank at a General Dynamics plant in Michigan (though he did not shoot the footage personally).
Another Rogich spot, "I Remember You," aired by the RNC in July and August 1988, used the 1940s song of the same name as background to a video collage of the Carter years, depicting oil sheiks, gas lines and malaise. Dukakis's lead over Bush—17 points at the end of the Democratic Convention in July—evaporated by the end of the GOP Convention in August.
According to Rogich, he and Ailes got along famously. "We had a special relationship, a friendship that we've maintained throughout the years," Rogich recalled. Although he supervised the making of many of Mr. Bush's negative commercials, Rogich insisted he preferred the softer advertisements, like the one of Mr. Bush's granddaughter running into his arms.
In 1992, Rogich was named United States Ambassador to his native country of Iceland
by President Bush. Within months, he voluntarily gave up his appointive post to assist in the latter months of Bush Sr.'s re-election campaign (Bush-Quayle '92) at the request of the President and his Chief of Staff, Jim Baker.
Rogich recently served as National Finance Co-Chairman for The Republican Governors' Association and has served in the same capacity in Nevada for President George W. Bush. He was a Bush Pioneer
, and an early supporter of longtime friend, John McCain
in the 2008 presidential contest.
The Bush Pioneer website described the following: Ex-heavyweight champ Mike Tyson also hired this former state boxing commissioner to burnish his image after biting Evander Holyfield’s ear in a match.
Rogich has a school named after him, Sig Rogich Middle School, which is located in Summerlin, NV, congruent to Palo Verde High School
. Rogich also currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the Public Education Foundation in Clark County, Nevada and as the fund-raising Chairman for Opportunity Village, a non-profit organization in Las Vegas that serves people with intellectual disabilities.
In 2010 Rogich joined the board of startup job website, Jobbi.com.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic/American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and was a senior media consultant to leading Republican candidates for office, under Presidents Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and George H.W. Bush. He was senior campaign consultant for former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and incumbent Governor Jim Gibbons.
Rogich is president of The Rogich Communications Group, a national and international business facilitator, public relations, and crisis management firm. He also founded Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
based R&R Advertising, Nevada’s largest advertising and marketing firm, and has been closely involved with Las Vegas marketing for more than 30 years. His entertainment and business clients have included Frank Sinatra, Donald Trump, Mike Tyson, Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian and Sheldon Adelson among others.
When he began working in the West Wing of the White House as an Assistant to the President for the first President Bush in 1989, he said: "I know it sounds corny for someone to tell you that they're patriotic and that they feel honored to do something like this . . . but I believe deeply in this President because he's all of that and more. It's just an honor to serve here." (His title in 1989-92 was special assistant to the President for activities and initiatives.)
Born in Iceland, he started "dirt poor," as his mother, Ranny, told the New York Times in 1989, when the family lived in public housing and his father worked in a metals factory outside Las Vegas. His father went on to be a foreman at a company that made neon casino signs, and his sister was a dancer in a review that toured with Sammy Davis Jr. Sig Rogich worked odd jobs from the time he was small, and as he got older toiled as a busboy at casinos in Las Vegas, a bellboy in Lake Tahoe hotels and a folk singer in San Francisco bistros. By the time he turned 30, he was a multimillionaire, and one who has quietly sent money to children in need of operations when he reads about them in newspapers.:
"I try to look at things from an historical point of view because I think that gives greater impact to the message," said Rogich, who collects first-edition books, papers and photographs involving his two heroes, Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt. "It's important to look for the unusual setting. The Camp David accords might not have been as memorable if they were simply the Washington accords," Rogich said.
Rogich is a longtime close associate and adviser to Paul Laxalt
Paul Laxalt
Paul Dominique Laxalt of Nevada was a former Republican District Attorney, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator. In the media, the words "son of a Basque sheepherder" often accompanied his name. He was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics...
, United States Senator from Nevada and three times chairman of the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. In 1984, Rogich was co-director of the "Tuesday Team," an advertising agency created specifically to produce campaign ads for the re-election campaign of President Reagan (a.k.a. Reagan-Bush '84). His title was National Advertising Director.
In 1987 and 1988 Rogich, working under chief media adviser Roger Ailes
Roger Ailes
Roger Eugene Ailes is president of Fox News Channel, chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group. Ailes was a media consultant for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W...
as Director of Advertising, personally directed the shooting of most of the television ads for the George H.W. Bush primary campaign (Bush for President) and general-election campaign (Bush-Quayle '88), as well as others for the Republican National Committee.
These included the famous "Revolving Door" spot for Bush-Quayle '88 (shot with prisoners at a Utah penitentiary), which highlighted the crime record of Democratic nominee, Gov. Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
. Rogich is also credited with devising the Bush ads that prominently featured Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
cruising in a tank at a General Dynamics plant in Michigan (though he did not shoot the footage personally).
Another Rogich spot, "I Remember You," aired by the RNC in July and August 1988, used the 1940s song of the same name as background to a video collage of the Carter years, depicting oil sheiks, gas lines and malaise. Dukakis's lead over Bush—17 points at the end of the Democratic Convention in July—evaporated by the end of the GOP Convention in August.
According to Rogich, he and Ailes got along famously. "We had a special relationship, a friendship that we've maintained throughout the years," Rogich recalled. Although he supervised the making of many of Mr. Bush's negative commercials, Rogich insisted he preferred the softer advertisements, like the one of Mr. Bush's granddaughter running into his arms.
In 1992, Rogich was named United States Ambassador to his native country of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
by President Bush. Within months, he voluntarily gave up his appointive post to assist in the latter months of Bush Sr.'s re-election campaign (Bush-Quayle '92) at the request of the President and his Chief of Staff, Jim Baker.
Rogich recently served as National Finance Co-Chairman for The Republican Governors' Association and has served in the same capacity in Nevada for President George W. Bush. He was a Bush Pioneer
Bush Pioneer
Bush Pioneers are people who gathered $100,000 for George W. Bush's 2000 or 2004 presidential campaign. Two new levels, Bush Rangers and Super Rangers, were bestowed upon supporters who gathered $200,000+ or $300,000+, respectively, for the 2004 campaign, after the 2002 McCain–Feingold campaign...
, and an early supporter of longtime friend, John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
in the 2008 presidential contest.
The Bush Pioneer website described the following: Ex-heavyweight champ Mike Tyson also hired this former state boxing commissioner to burnish his image after biting Evander Holyfield’s ear in a match.
Rogich has a school named after him, Sig Rogich Middle School, which is located in Summerlin, NV, congruent to Palo Verde High School
Palo Verde High School
Palo Verde High School is a high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.The school was built in 1996 with an adjacent 10 portable classrooms located in Summerlin, a rapidly growing suburban middle class to affluent community in the western portion of the City of Las Vegas and unincorporated...
. Rogich also currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the Public Education Foundation in Clark County, Nevada and as the fund-raising Chairman for Opportunity Village, a non-profit organization in Las Vegas that serves people with intellectual disabilities.
In 2010 Rogich joined the board of startup job website, Jobbi.com.