Aristotle

Aristotle
Now You Know

Furthering the democratic process, regardless of political affiliation.

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Kyiv. Photo: Igor Kostin

Aristotle is a pioneer in the business of political data analysis and micro-targeting. They've worked with countless senatorial and congressional campaigns, state party initiatives, political action committees, and every occupant of the White House since Ronald Reagan.

When John Aristotle Phillips first hired us, his company's flagship product had become synonymous with packaged software, so our first task was to revitalize the brand and reestablish 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

We've worked on a number of "special projects" with Aristotle. Highlights include the launch a Stock Market for Politics, and helping pro-democracy candidates in some very challenging parts of the world.

In Ukraine, Aristotle sounded the alarm on election interference, and thousands of democracy advocates took to the streets in what became known around the world as The Orange Revolution. In Afghanistan, Aristotle helped get out the vote and detect election fraud.

In addition to Ukraine and Afghanistan, John has personally witnessed some appalling abuses of power in Tunisia, Uganda, and Venezuela. But nothing could prepare him for his terrifying experience in Kenya.

Just days after a key election official was tortured and murdered, John was dragged from his hotel in Nairobi by a heavily armed gang. He was hand-cuffed, bundled into the back of a hatchback 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

Thankfully, US Embassy officials were negotiating with John’s hostage takers. At around midnight, he was taken to an airport and locked in a cell before being spirited out of the country by the CIA.

From what began as the vision of two brothers looking to create the first campaign finance and reporting database, Aristotle is now famous for furthering the democratic process, regardless of political affiliation.

The Orange Revolution shaped 21st century geo-politics, and, after a re-run ballet, Viktor Yushchenko was elected President of Ukraine.
After campaigning as a modernist rival of the Taliban, Ashraf Ghani was elected President of Afghanistan.
Several Aristotle ads are routinely quoted by the media.