All of my people in Kansas City have been there for me the whole time, even though I have been away. I can honestly say that I miss you every day. Thank you so much to the Robertsons, the Leonards, the Launders, the Spradleys, the Kienes, the Fogels, the Zimmers, the Eckels, the Wolbachs, the Dickeys, the Mauros, the Moores, and to all the other families who made me who I am. From the bottom of my heart: thank you. To all my friends in St. Louis: the Andreses, the Diekempers, the Riches, the Dobsons, the Higdons, the Lanes, the Wolfs, and the Berzons: I am really sorry that we had to leave. Saying good-bye to you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I haven’t gotten over it.
They say you can’t pick your in-laws, so I guess I was just extremely lucky. John and Joan Miller have been the best, most supportive parents-in-law that a person could have. They have helped this project from the beginning, and made it better along the way through their questions, comments, and perspectives. Thank you. And thanks to Claire, Drew, and Mary Ellen for all the happy times when we got to take a break.
David, Blythe, and Mom: I owe you everything. I don’t know how to say it except: thank you.
Dad: I hope you like this book. You were there at my desk the whole time.
Josie: There’s a reason you’re always the first person to read what I write. I don’t just trust your judgment—I can’t manage without it. You have been with me through seven punishing years of ups and downs on this project. While we were raising a family, you also helped me navigate the punishing terrain of the journalism business, where almost nothing can be counted on. I know I can always count on you. Without you, none of it is possible.
And to the kids: all of it is for you.
APPENDIX
Alphabetical Directory of Significant Characters in Kochland
Antrich, Darrell. Former electricity trader for Koch Energy Trading. Antrich was involved in Koch’s “parking” trades during the energy crisis in California in 2000.
Ballen, Ken. Attorney hired by the US Senate to investigate Koch’s theft of oil in Indian reservations during the 1980s. Ballen uncovered extensive evidence of the theft and referred it to the US Attorney’s office in Oklahoma City.
Barnard, Don. Labor negotiator for Georgia-Pacific. He represented the company in drawn-out negotiations that were among the first after Koch Industries purchased Georgia-Pacific.
Beckett, Melissa. Koch Industries commodities trader. Beckett traded gasoline and fuel products, learning the “contango storage play” and other strategies. She later shifted to the Koch Energy Trading desk, where she traded megawatt-hours in the California market. She finally went to the fertilizer trading group, where she worked for Chase Koch.
Bingel, Kelly. Democratic lobbyist who represented Koch Industries as it sought to derail the cap-and-trade bill in 2010.
Brady, Maria. Tea Party activist from Boiling Springs, South Carolina. Brady became politically active after receiving a revelation from God. Her group helped unseat Republican Congressman Bob Inglis. Her Tea Party chapter’s efforts were promoted by Americans for Prosperity.
Bucknum, Gary. Former local labor union president at the Inlandboatmen’s Union, or IBU, at Georgia-Pacific’s warehouse in Portland, Oregon. Bucknum didn’t work for Georgia-Pacific but joined the union from a different company it represented. He joined in 2008, at the same time as Steve Hammond. Bucknum negotiated one drawn-out negotiation against Georgia-Pacific and did not seek reelection. Also known as “Gary the Anarchist.”
Cordes, Don. Koch Industries’ general counsel throughout the 1980s and 1990s. During that time, he was vice president of legal and the corporate affairs chief legal officer. He joined the company’s board of directors in 1996. Cordes was Charles Koch’s legal advisor as the US Senate investigated Koch’s oil theft in Oklahoma and as Bill Koch waged a multiyear legal war against Charles Koch.
David, Steve. Manager of environmental engineering at the Pine Bend refinery in the mid-1990s. Oversaw the work of whistle-blower Heather Faragher during the period when Pine Bend released ammonia into the surrounding environment.
Davis, Gray. Governor of California during the electricity crisis of 2000. The crisis ended Davis’s political career.
Dodge, Brian. Local labor union president at the Inlandboatmen’s Union, or IBU, at Georgia-Pacific’s warehouse in Portland, Oregon. Dodge was Steve Hammond’s boss and was elected to the position after his predecessor, Gary Bucknum, resigned. Dodge negotiated multiple labor contracts with Koch Industries but felt that he had no leverage. Also known as “the Dodger.”
Dubose, Phil. Longtime Koch employee who joined the company in 1968. Dubose spent many years as an oil gauger, collecting oil for Koch’s pipeline system. Dubose used the Koch method of oil collection, in which he intentionally mismeasured the oil supplies for Koch’s benefit.
Ebell, Myron. Scholar with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a think tank funded by Koch Industries and other energy companies. Ebell has spoken out against “climate hysteria” and regulatory efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ebell led transition efforts at the EPA for the Trump administration.
Ellender, Philip. President and CEO of Koch Industries’ lobbying office, called Koch Companies Public Sector. Ellender began as a lobbyist in Louisiana and transferred later to Washington, DC. He was unusual among lobbyists because of his embrace of Koch’s MBM theories. He was known as a “Wichita guy,” rather than a Washington guy. Helped lead Koch’s lobbying efforts to derail the cap-and-trade bill in 2010.
Elroy, James. Special agent of the FBI, based in Oklahoma. He was the primary FBI investigator into Koch’s oil theft in Oklahoma, surveilling the company’s employees. Elroy later assisted the US Attorney’s office in Oklahoma City as it investigated the theft. After leaving the FBI, Elroy was employed by Bill Koch as Koch pursued a civil suit against Koch Industries for oil theft.
Estes, Ruth. Assistant safety chief at the Pine Bend refinery in the mid-1990s, intimately involved in decision-making around the release of ammonia into the environment.
Feilmeier, Steve. Chief financial officer of Koch Industries from the mid-2000s until present day. Feilmeier held that position during many of Koch’s major acquisitions and helped train Chase Koch when Chase joined the company after college.
Franklin, Cris. Koch Industries trader. Franklin began in Koch’s pipeline division, helping design software systems to manage complex gas flows. He later shifted to trading financial products. He was on a financial products trading desk during the crash of 2008.
Franzen, David. Warehouse worker at Georgia-Pacific’s warehouse in Portland, Oregon. Longtime member of the Inlandboatmen’s Union, or IBU. He was on the committee that negotiated a labor contract with Georgia-Pacific, and believed that doing so forever tainted his reputation with managers. He was known as something of a brawler.
Hall, Bradley. Longtime Koch Industries employee who joined the firm in 1975. Hall rose up through the ranks of finance and deal making at Koch, eventually running the corporate development group, which evaluated potential acquisitions. He later became CFO of Koch Supply & Trading before leaving the company in 2004.
Hammerschmidt, Joseph. Militant leader of the OCAW labor union at the Pine Bend refinery who led the strike against Koch in 1972.