In front of a temple dedicated to the Egyptian god of life, the Fox Business Network was celebrated by the two men who helped give the channel life. News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch and FNC/FBN chairman and CEO Roger Ailes welcomed the stars of Main Street and Wall Street to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Wednesday night.
The guest list included Jack Welch, Vernon Jordan, Henry Kravis, the Trumps, Ivanka and Donald Jr. and the Philbins, Regis and Joy.
The party was held at the Temple of Dendur, which Ailes reminded everyone was built in 15 B.C. by Emperor Augustus, “the Rupert Murdoch of his day.” Ailes talked about how FBN was once just a glimmer in Murdoch’s eye: “One day he said to me, ‘you know CNBC needs competition,’ and I said ‘uh oh, here we go.'”
In his speech, Murdoch weaved together the virtues of free enterprise, global markets and the American experience: “In this country we have the best-run most corruption-free companies in the world. Our companies are beacons of success that the rest of the world looks to, not that you’d know that through much of the business coverage we see every day.”
Murdoch continued, “At Fox Business we still cover the scandals and failures that come along from time to time. We’ll be just as tough as anyone in protecting investors. But my hope for Fox Business is that we’ll also find time to celebrate the freedom and sense of optimism that free markets have given Americans.”
New York Post columnist Liz Smith speaking with Wendi Deng, wife of News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch (center).
More pictures after the jump…
FBN’s David Asman and former GE chairman Jack Welch (who guest-hosted Squawk Box on CNBC earlier in the day.)
FBN VP/Host (or as Ailes called her player/coach) Alexis Glick and husband Oren.
Inside Edition’s Deborah Norville and FBN’s newest hire Liz Claman.
(photos/Chris Ariens)