Bruce Chapman
Encyclopedia
Bruce K. Chapman is the director and founder of the Discovery Institute
, an American
conservative
think tank often associated with the religious right
. He was previously a journalist
, a Republican Party politician
and a diplomat
.
in 1962, he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, and worked as an editorial writer for the New York Herald Tribune
. In 1966 Chapman moved to Seattle and wrote a book entitled The Wrong Man in Uniform, arguing against conscription
.
With his college roommate George Gilder
, he wrote an attack on the anti-intellectual policies of Barry Goldwater
entitled The Party That Lost Its Head (1966).
Chapman became active in politics through the Seattle Young Republicans, and became a member of the United States Republican Party. He was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1971. In 1975, he was appointed Secretary of State of Washington
. He campaigned for the office of Governor of Washington in 1980, but ultimately did not win the Republican nomination.
Chapman was appointed by President Ronald Reagan
to the position of Director of the United States Census Bureau
and served in that role from 1981 until 1983. Between 1983 and 1985 he was Deputy Assistant to President Reagan and Director of the White House
Office of Planning and Evaluation. From 1985 to 1988 he served in the appointed position of United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Organizations in Vienna
. His portfolio included nuclear proliferation
, refugee
s, economic development
, and the control of narcotics.
, a conservative think tank. In 1990, he left Hudson and founded the Discovery Institute
. The institute is best known as the hub of the Intelligent Design movement
, and also focuses on a broad range of issues, including transportation and international cooperation in the Cascadia
region.
Chapman is a Roman Catholic and is married to the former Sarah Gilmore Williams (a great-granddaughter of Theodore Roosevelt
), with whom he has two sons, Adam and Andrew.
Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
think tank often associated with the religious right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
. He was previously a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, a Republican Party politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Political career
After graduating from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1962, he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, and worked as an editorial writer for the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
. In 1966 Chapman moved to Seattle and wrote a book entitled The Wrong Man in Uniform, arguing against conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
.
With his college roommate George Gilder
George Gilder
George F. Gilder is an American writer, techno-utopian intellectual, Republican Party activist, and co-founder of the Discovery Institute...
, he wrote an attack on the anti-intellectual policies of Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
entitled The Party That Lost Its Head (1966).
Chapman became active in politics through the Seattle Young Republicans, and became a member of the United States Republican Party. He was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1971. In 1975, he was appointed Secretary of State of Washington
Secretary of State of Washington
The Secretary of State of Washington is one of the elected constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Washington. The duties of the office are specified in Article III, Section 17 of the Washington State Constitution and Chapter 43.07 of the Revised Code of Washington...
. He campaigned for the office of Governor of Washington in 1980, but ultimately did not win the Republican nomination.
Chapman was appointed by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to the position of Director of the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
and served in that role from 1981 until 1983. Between 1983 and 1985 he was Deputy Assistant to President Reagan and Director of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Office of Planning and Evaluation. From 1985 to 1988 he served in the appointed position of United States Ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Organizations in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. His portfolio included nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information, to nations which are not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the...
, refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s, economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, and the control of narcotics.
Intelligent design
From 1988 to 1990 Chapman was a fellow at the Hudson InstituteHudson Institute
The Hudson Institute is an American think tank founded in 1961, in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, by futurist, military strategist, and systems theorist Herman Kahn and his colleagues at the RAND Corporation...
, a conservative think tank. In 1990, he left Hudson and founded the Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design...
. The institute is best known as the hub of the Intelligent Design movement
Intelligent design movement
The intelligent design movement is a neo-creationist religious campaign for broad social, academic and political change to promote and support the idea of "intelligent design," which asserts that "certain features of the universe and of living things are...
, and also focuses on a broad range of issues, including transportation and international cooperation in the Cascadia
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
region.
Chapman is a Roman Catholic and is married to the former Sarah Gilmore Williams (a great-granddaughter of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
), with whom he has two sons, Adam and Andrew.
Books
- The Party That Lost Its Head Alfred A. Knopf; 1st edition (1966)
- The Wrong Man in Uniform Trident Press (1967)
- Instead of Revolution The Ripon Society (1971)
External links
- Bruce Chapman biography from the Discovery InstituteDiscovery InstituteThe Discovery Institute is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design...
- Discovery's Creation A brief history of the founding of the Discovery institute and how the Wedge Document was made public.
- Articles on Secretaries of State for Washington
- Lecture by Bruce Chapman on "What Does A Think Tank Think About?" in July, 2006 Mr. Chapman provides a tour of the think tank world and explains how "policy wonks" influence public policy.
- Evolution of a think tank — "A journalist comes of age with Bruce Chapman, watching him launch Seattle's Discovery Institute and the intelligent design movement."