- By Daniel McCoy
- Wichita Business Journal
To the American business world, he’s a giant — head of the nation’s second largest private company.
To the political world, he is, by turns, the country’s No. 1 bogeyman and benefactor.
To Wichita, he is the Wizard of Oz — ever-present yet rarely seen, influential but invisible.
To the media, and by extension the public, Charles Koch is elusive and inscrutable.
Until now.
In a rare extended interview with the Wichita Business Journal, Koch spoke expansively with Editor in Chief Bill Roy and Reporter Daniel McCoy, explaining in detail his political convictions, his involvement in Americans for Prosperity and his disdain for what he calls rampant cronyism.
He criticizes business leaders who say they believe in a free-market system, but do their best to manipulate that system by working to impose regulations on their competitors or going for “smash and grab, short-term profits.”
Koch says he’s used to being on the receiving end of criticism and name calling, but he’s hoping that the country can get to a point of civil discourse.
Koch also discussed his commitment to Wichita, his expanding interest in electronics and biotechnology and where those interests may take his beloved Koch Industries, where he became CEO 47 years ago.
We met with Charles Koch in his office Feb. 18, 2014. Continue reading
