The Arch-Conservative Bradley Foundation Is Waging A War On Democracy
The Waltons may be more familiar. The Koch brothers may be more infamous. But when it comes to right-wing money working to undermine functional features of democracy, including public education, the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation is also powerful, wealthy, and well-connected.
Established way back in 1942 after the death of Lynde Bradley. The foundation later also honored Lynde’s brother Harry Bradley, a charter member of the John Birch Society (the granddaddy of U.S. right-wing fringe groups). Bradley had some partners in launching John Birch, with Fred Koch, the father of the Koch Brothers. Bradley was also a fan of the Manion Forum, the radio show of conservative Christopher Manion, the man who made sure that Goldwater’s Conscience of a Conservative was published.
The Bradleys made their money running the Allen-Bradley company, which manufactured factory automation equipment. They did quite well in the first half of the 2oth Century, but in 1985 Rockwell International bought the company for $1.65 billion. They have been spending that money on their vision of the country ever since.
Initially, the foundation provided aid for the poor of the Milwaukee area. But with the huge payday from the sale of the company, the foundation upped its game. The foundation reportedly gives away something like $35-45 million a year; from 2001 to 2009, it handed out more money than the seven Koch and Scaife Foundations combined. This “venture capital firm for ideas” has not slowed down since then.
https://buckscountybeacon.com/2023/05/the-arch-conservative-bradley-foundation-is-waging-a-war-on-democracy/