David Koch was more than a billionaire or a son of a Bircher. He was one of the most powerful politicians in modern American history–even though he was never elected to anything. (This article was first published on KochDocs here.)
Make no mistake, despite some of the fawning eulogies or warm remembrances of his “honkish” laughter, he was a real villain on the most important issues facing us today.
His extreme political agenda was overwhelmingly rejected when David ran for Vice President in 1980. Running against Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Koch failed to win even a million votes after spending more than $2 million of his fortune from Koch Industries, the business he and his brother inherited and made into one of the most powerful private companies on earth.
Original documents unearthed by KochDocs shed new light on that agenda and how David Koch and his brother used their wealth to move it from the fringe to domination of the GOP.
For example, the 1980 Libertarian Party platform contains a laundry list of radical proposals that are now mainstream Republican ideology, including abolishing the U.S. Department of Energy and popular programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The ticket also opposed anti-pollution measures and called for the privatization of the U.S. Postal Service, public lands and waterways, as well as Social Security.
Notably, the Libertarian Party also vehemently rejected all forms of campaign finance laws, going as far as to call for the repeal of the Federal Elections Commission Act, which established rules that prevented people like David Koch from using his vast wealth to exert undue influence over elections or policymaking.
In one newly discovered letter on David Koch’s letterhead, he complained that Federal Election Campaign Act prevented him from doing what they needed “to marshal all our available resources to continue our forward progress” on the Libertarian Party agenda because the law “severely limited the amount any individual could spend to help a political candidate or a political party,” adding:
“All I wanted to do was to help the candidate of my choice, and yet it was a crime for me to do so! But there was one exception to this law: a candidate, himself, could contribute an unlimited amount to his own campaign.” So he became ran as a candidate to be Vice President.
Thirty years after he ran for office, a bare majority of the U.S. Supreme Court cast aside long-standing legal precedents and used the First Amendment to bar Congress from regulating outside spending, which unleashed David and Charles Koch to spend unlimited money to try to dominate and capture American democracy through the power of their wealth.
I’ve been studying his role in his brother’s political empire since 2009 when suddenly activists were redirected from blaming Wall Street for crashing our economy to blaming newly-elected President Obama and his efforts to get more Americans access to life-saving health care.
What I discovered when I pulled on that thread was an alphabet soup of front groups with deceptively positive names that were all tied to these billionaire brothers, including a group they controlled dubbed “Americans for Prosperity” (AFP), which are essential to obtaining their radical agenda.
Others were looking closely at the Kochs too, but the documented facts about how AFP was fueling the Tea Party did not stop David Koch from lying to Jane Mayer when she asked him about funding that political movement in her breakthrough story for the New Yorker, which led to her authoritative biography of the Koch shell groups in her book, Dark Money.
Facts about climate change also did not stop David Koch from funding groups lying about the reality of climate change caused by the burning of carbon. He even suggested that if the planet were warming that would be great, as he and his brother funded an array of groups trying to obstruct efforts to limit carbon pollution–despite the overwhelming science against them.
All the while, used his fortune to buy a veneer of respectability that his destructive policies did not merit, gaining positive press for funding cancer research even though the companies he and his brother led spewed carcinogens into the air and water of communities near their plants, as Chris Leonard’s new book, Kochland, documents in detail.
David Koch’s own carbon footprint was almost incalculably gargantuan. And like a greenhouse gas his legacy will remain a powerful, destructive force for decades ahead due to his role in thwarting efforts to mitigate the devastating climate changes America and the world are witnessing.
It will also extend because he and his brother helped pack the U.S. Supreme Court with a majority of men chosen to rollback our legal precedents to the robber baron era, according to their ally and beneficiary, Leonard Leo.
None of this should come as a surprise: David Koch’s true legacy was always extreme greed, and, that’s what is truly sad.
Lisa Graves is the Director of the KochDocs project, and she formerly served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice and in other posts. Her bio is available here. Follow her on twitter @thelisagraves.
Patti Morey
17 Nov 2020i am very upset about Charles Koch, whom i just learned of yesterday. i wish he could help preserve fish in the world oceans from overfishing by China, and that he could help preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; why not help our planet last a little longer, help tigers be around till the end, and elephants, and birds. Thank you!!!
Binance推荐代码
15 Sep 2026Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
binance h"anvisningskod
15 Sep 2026Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me. https://www.binance.bh/register?ref=JW3W4Y3A
Sarah
18 Sep 2026What stood out to me is how small, repeatable choices matter more than finding one perfect budgeting system. Personal finance can feel isolating, but framing it as building breathing room over time makes the process feel much more humane.
Robbie Idiart
8 Oct 2026Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
lgowin99
11 Oct 2026When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
senang4d
12 Oct 2026I will immediately grab your rss feed as I can not find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
https://kopikini.com/
12 Oct 2026There is obviously a lot to identify about this. I consider you made various good points in features also.
mango, apple, coconut, orange juice beverage bottling line
12 Oct 2026Thank you for all of your work on this site. My aunt really likes carrying out investigations and it’s really obvious why. Most of us know all about the dynamic tactic you produce sensible items via your blog and in addition foster response from some others on this situation then our favorite princess is now becoming educated a lot of things. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the year. Your doing a stunning job.
순천출장마사지
13 Oct 2026순천출장마사지 타임케어 – 순천출장홈타이와 순천출장안마 순천홈타이 서비스를 전국 어디서나 24시간 편하게! 전문 마사지사의 맞춤 홈케어로 피로를 빠르게 해소
lgowin99
14 Oct 2026Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
팔팔정
14 Oct 2026팔팔정의 성분과 효과, 50mg·100mg 차이, 복용 시간과 부작용을 확인하세요. 처방 및 가격 확인 방법, 함께 복용하면 안 되는 약, 자주 묻는 질문까지 안내합니다.
open binance account
14 Oct 2026Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
안양출장마사지
14 Oct 2026경기도 안양출장마사지 셀럽의 코스와 가격, 자택·호텔 방문 상담, 선입금 없는 예약 및 현장 결제 기준을 확인하세요. 방문 가능 여부와 예상 도착 시간은 주소와 당일 일정에 따라 안내합니다.
인천출장마사지
14 Oct 2026인천출장마사지 인천출장안마 셀럽의 코스별 가격과 현장 결제, 예약 방법을 확인하세요. 송도·청라·부평·구월동·영종 등 지역별 방문 가능 여부와 예상 도착 시간, 자택·호텔 이용 안내를 제공합니다.
GullyBet live cricket scores
14 Oct 2026My husband and i ended up being very thankful Raymond could carry out his investigations via the ideas he had through your web site. It’s not at all simplistic to simply always be making a gift of guidance which the others could have been making money from. We do know we now have the blog owner to be grateful to for that. The specific illustrations you have made, the simple blog navigation, the relationships you help foster – it’s many unbelievable, and it is letting our son and the family do think the subject matter is interesting, and that’s quite important. Thanks for all!
alluvi
15 Oct 2026Spot on with this write-up, I really assume this web site needs rather more consideration. I’ll in all probability be once more to read rather more, thanks for that info.
Ethical hackers for business
16 Oct 2026Very interesting details you have noted, thanks for putting up.
slot gacor hari ini
16 Oct 2026Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
curso area administrativa estatal
16 Oct 2026Hello! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when browsing from my iphone. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this problem. If you have any recommendations, please share. Many thanks!
slot
16 Oct 2026of course like your web site but you have to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the truth nevertheless I’ll definitely come back again.
regularização de ar-condicionado SP
16 Oct 2026I’ll right away snatch your rss as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me understand so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
slot gacor hari ini
16 Oct 2026I like this post, enjoyed this one thankyou for putting up.
slot
16 Oct 2026I would like to point out my affection for your kind-heartedness giving support to those people who should have assistance with this one study. Your very own commitment to getting the message across has been surprisingly important and has frequently allowed girls just like me to attain their pursuits. Your invaluable facts indicates a great deal to me and far more to my mates. Thanks a ton; from everyone of us.
slot
17 Oct 2026naturally like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth nevertheless I will surely come back again.
togel jitu
17 Oct 2026I’ve learn several good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot effort you place to create such a fantastic informative web site.
pestoto login
17 Oct 2026Hello my friend! I want to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include approximately all vital infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
how to stop making stupid mistakes on exams
19 Oct 2026I went over this website and I believe you have a lot of fantastic information, saved to bookmarks (:.
luxury vacation packages online
19 Oct 2026Hey very nice website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
fabric sofa
20 Oct 2026I always was concerned in this subject and stock still am, thankyou for posting.
agen togel
20 Oct 2026whoah this blog is fantastic i love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, many people are searching around for this information, you could help them greatly.
senang4d
20 Oct 2026I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the format for your blog. Is that this a paid theme or did you modify it your self? Either way stay up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to peer a nice weblog like this one today..
marketing strategy vs tactics definition
20 Oct 2026I was very happy to find this web-site.I needed to thanks in your time for this wonderful learn!! I undoubtedly enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you weblog post.
https://indonesianpremierleague.com/
20 Oct 2026I am impressed with this website , real I am a fan.
olxtoto
21 Oct 2026Somebody essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Magnificent job!
olxtoto
21 Oct 2026Well I really liked reading it. This subject procured by you is very useful for proper planning.
imovel comercial a venda em rio de janeiro
21 Oct 2026Magnificent site. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your sweat!
quanto custa lançar um app de corridas
21 Oct 2026Well I sincerely enjoyed reading it. This subject offered by you is very useful for accurate planning.
pestoto
22 Oct 2026Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
software house ou equipe interna
22 Oct 2026I view something genuinely special in this web site.
pestoto
22 Oct 2026Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such great information being shared freely out there.
CA Empreendimentos Porto Belo SC
22 Oct 2026I saw a lot of website but I think this one contains something special in it in it
apk slot
22 Oct 2026Hello, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Chrome, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, very good blog!
最佳Binance推荐代码
22 Oct 2026I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
backlinks service seo
23 Oct 2026Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.
pestoto
23 Oct 2026you may have an amazing weblog right here! would you wish to make some invite posts on my blog?
slot gacor
23 Oct 2026Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.
서울출장마사지
23 Oct 2026서울출장마사지 서울출장안마 셀럽은 고객이 머무는 장소에서 관리를 받을 수 있도록 방문 서비스를 안내합니다. 자택이나 숙소의 위치, 원하는 이용 시간, 코스를 알려주시면 예약 가능
hptoto
23 Oct 2026I simply couldn’t go away your site prior to suggesting that I actually loved the standard info a person provide in your guests? Is going to be again continuously in order to inspect new posts