Paul H Koch

David Hamilton Koch, born May 3, 1940, was an American businessman, political activist, philanthropist, and chemical engineer. He joined the family business, Koch Industries, in 1970, eventually becoming president of Koch Engineering and a co-owner alongside his brother Charles. He retired in 2018 due to health issues. Koch was a prominent figure in libertarian and later Republican politics, serving as the Libertarian Party's vice-presidential candidate in 1980 and spending significant sums to support conservative campaigns and advocacy groups. He was known for his advocacy for smaller government, lower taxes, and deregulation. Koch was also a significant philanthropist, contributing to various cultural and medical institutions, including a substantial donation that led to the renaming of the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center.

Koch's early life included attending Deerfield Academy and earning degrees in chemical engineering from MIT, where he excelled in basketball. His career at Koch Industries involved significant legal and financial dealings with his brothers regarding ownership stakes. Politically, he was inspired by libertarian ideals, advocating for policies such as abolishing Social Security and the Federal Reserve. However, he later broke with the Libertarian Party over ideological differences, shifting his financial support primarily to the Republican Party. He was a vocal critic of policies like the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, and held controversial views on climate change. Despite his political activism, he also identified as a social liberal on certain issues, supporting rights like same-sex marriage and opposing the war on drugs.

David Hamilton Koch joined Koch Industries in 1970, working in technical services. He was instrumental in establishing the company's New York City office and later became president of Koch Engineering in 1979. In 1983, following a significant legal dispute among the brothers, David and his elder brother Charles became the majority owners of Koch Industries. He held a substantial ownership stake, reportedly 42 percent, alongside Charles. Koch also held four U.S. patents related to his engineering background. He served as an executive vice president for Koch Industries until his retirement in 2018 due to health concerns.

Koch was a notable political activist, initially aligning with libertarian principles. He ran as the Libertarian Party's vice-presidential candidate in 1980, advocating for policies that included significant government reduction. After this experience, he shifted his primary political allegiance, becoming a Republican in 1984. He became a major financial supporter of Republican candidates and conservative advocacy groups, most notably founding Citizens for a Sound Economy and significantly funding Americans for Prosperity. Koch was a strong proponent of smaller government, lower taxes, and deregulation. He was critical of President Barack Obama's policies, viewing them as detrimental to the free enterprise system. While holding conservative views on economic policy, he also identified as a social liberal on issues like abortion rights, gay rights, and same-sex marriage.

Beyond his business and political activities, David Koch was a significant philanthropist. He made substantial contributions to various institutions, including the Lincoln Center, Sloan Kettering, NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital, and the American Museum of Natural History. His most prominent philanthropic act was a $100 million gift to Lincoln Center for the renovation of the New York State Theater, which was subsequently renamed the David H. Koch Theater in his honor in 2008. His wealth placed him among the wealthiest individuals in the United States and globally.

“Lord knows I didn't need a job, but I believe in what the Libertarians are saying. I suppose if they hadn't come along, I could have been a big Republican from Wichita. But hell — everybody from Kansas is a Republican.”

“We'd like to abolish the Federal Election Commission and all the limits on campaign spending anyway.”

“Compared to what [the Libertarians had] gotten before... and where we were as a movement or as a political/ideological point of view, that was pretty remarkable, to get 1 percent of the vote.”

“We're helping him, as we should. We've gotten pretty good at this over the years. We've spent a lot of money in Wisconsin. We're going to spend more.”

“Earth will be able to support enormously more people, because a far greater land area will be available to produce food.”