Aristotle

Aristotle
Now You Know

Furthering the democratic process, regardless of political affiliation.

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Kyiv. Photo: Igor Kostin

A true pioneering force in data mining and micro-targeting technology, Aristotle has worked with countless senatorial and congressional campaigns, state party initiatives, PAC and grassroots organizations, and every occupant of the White House since Ronald Reagan.

When John Aristotle Phillips first hired us, his company's products and services had become synonymous with packaged software, so our first task was to revitalize the brand and re-establish Aristotle's leadership position.

"Aristotle's ads tap into the world of K-Street, where idealism and cynicism mesh, and they juxtapose the gritty, real-life, roll-up-your-shirtsleeves-and-get-things-done-now existence of Campaign Managers, with an irreverent send up of their political masters."

Leslie Wayne, New York Times

During the course of our 20+ year relationship with Aristotle, we've worked on a number of 'special projects.' Highlights include the launch of a Stock Market for Politics, and two extraordinary presidential campaigns:

In Ukraine, Aristotle was part of a team who sounded the alarm about election interference. When the news broke it sparked a protest movement and thousands of young democracy advocates took to the streets in what became known as The Orange Revolution.

In Afghanistan, we produced a series of 60 second films to help focus media attention on the desperate failings of the incumbent president. Meanwhile, John Phillips was on the ground in Kabul, in danger the entire time. Just as he was in Kyiv where he moved around the city disguised as a reporter.

In addition to the Ukraine and Afghanistan, John has also worked in Tunisia, Uganda, and Venezuela. But, while he's witnessed some appalling abuses of power, nothing could prepare him for what was to happen in Kenya.

Just days after the torture and murder of a key election official, John was dragged from his hotel in Nairobi by a heavily armed gang. He was hand-cuffed, bundled into the back of a car and driven into the jungle.

"One of Phillips abductors passed a machine gun from the front seat to the back while another played a video on his phone that depicted torture and killings."

Robyn Dixon, Los Angeles Times

At around midnight, the car turned down a quiet dirt road, and John was convinced that he would be killed. Meanwhile, the White House had been negotiating with his hostage takers, and several hours later, he was thrown into a van, taken to an airport, and spirited out of the country by the CIA.

Highlights from our incredible journey with Aristotle include:

Seeing Aristotle help pave the way for the democratic election of President Viktor Yushchenko, a reformist rival of the Kremlin and President Ashrf Ghani, a modernist rival of the Taliban.
Celebrating Aristotle's “International Campaign Team of the Year” award from the American Association of Political Consultants.
Producing ads for Aristotle that were routinely quoted in the media.