Burton K. Wheeler Center

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Burton K. Wheeler Center The Burton K. The Wheeler Center is named for the late Burton K. Wheeler, who earned fame as the “fighting progressive” U.S. The Senator passed away in 1975.

Wheeler Center for Public Policy is Montana's leading nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to fostering informed, nonpartisan dialogue on critical public policy issues shaping the state's future. Senator from Montana from 1923 - 1947. He is best remembered for his epic battle to block President Franklin Roosevelt's attempt to pack the Supreme Court, for his Senate investigation of corruption in the Harding Administration's Justice Department, and for his lifelong defense of civil liberties and his commitment to economic opportunity for all Montana citizens. Asserting, as did Senator Wheeler, that enlightened discussion of public policy is the cornerstone of our democracy, the Center is the only educational forum in the state where issues that affect Montana and the region are taken up in a regular, systematic and rigorously non-partisan way. Although the Wheeler Center has a close working relationship with Montana State University, it is an independent, non-profit organization, with its own board of directors. The Center depends entirely on private contributions for its programs and administration. In 1975, the Greater Montana Foundation (GMF) sponsored the first Burton K. Wheeler Memorial Lecture. Ed Craney, pioneering Montana broadcaster and founder of the GMF, enlisted the support of the two eldest sons of Burton K., John and Edward, in producing the first lectures and in the expansion of the lecture series into a more formal public policy center. Wheeler Center was thus established at Montana State University in 1988 under the guidance of historian and then-Academic Vice-President Michael Malone. In 1991, Dr. Malone asked Dr. Gordon Brittan, of the MSU philosophy faculty, to assume the Director's role, a position he held until June 2008. He was succeeded by Dr. Ralph Johnson, Professor of Architecture at MSU.

CEO search at the Wheeler Center -
09/09/2026

CEO search at the Wheeler Center -

For more than 34 years, the Wheeler Center has brought together citizens, policymakers, educators, business leaders, and community members to explore Montana's most important public policy issues through informed dialogue in nonpartisan settings. Guided by an ambitious strategic plan, a strong finan...

What comes next for Montana’s tax system?Our panel on "Where from here? Best options for the path forward," will bring t...
03/26/2026

What comes next for Montana’s tax system?

Our panel on "Where from here? Best options for the path forward," will bring together leaders from across policy, business, and government to explore real options for the road ahead.

Featuring:
🔹 Heather O'Loughlin, Executive Director, Montana Budget and Policy Center
🔹 Todd O'Hair, President and CEO, Montana Chamber of Commerce
🔹 Rep. Brandon Ler, Speaker of the Montana House
🔹 Brendan Beatty, Director, Montana Department of Revenue
🔹 Rep. Mark Thane, Vice Chair of House Taxation

Moderated by Eric Dietrich, former reporter with Montana Free Press

Different perspectives, but with shared responsibility. This conversation will be focused not just on where we’ve been, but where Montana goes from here.

April 6-7th in Bozeman, Montana.
We are less than two weeks away!

Join the conversation: https://bit.ly/4u3yNP9

When was the last time you saw both sides of an issue in the same room?In 1992, Montana voters witnessed one of the most...
03/26/2026

When was the last time you saw both sides of an issue in the same room?

In 1992, Montana voters witnessed one of the most closely watched gubernatorial races in state history. At the center of that campaign was a statewide sales tax proposal that sparked strong opinions and serious debate.

On April 7th, former Governor Marc Racicot and former Representative Dorothy Bradley will return to that conversation in a moderated discussion by Zach Brown, Gallatin County Commissioner, at The Wheeler Center's "Use Your Voice: A Civil Conversation on Tax Policy."

Join the conversation.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/use-your-voice-a-civil-conversation-on-tax-policy-tickets-1983403367865?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

On April 6th, Bob Story opens the "Use Your Voice: A Civil Conversation on Tax Policy" event as our Keynote Speaker.As E...
03/21/2026

On April 6th, Bob Story opens the "Use Your Voice: A Civil Conversation on Tax Policy" event as our Keynote Speaker.

As Executive Director of the MONTANA TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION and former President of the Montana Senate, Bob brings decades of experience shaping tax policy and understanding its real impact across Montana.

His keynote will set the tone for two days of thoughtful discussion on the future of our tax system.

These conversations matter.

Register today ➡️ https://www.wheelercenter.org/conferences/

This summer, we convened for a board retreat. It was so lovely to meet in person, and we can’t wait for what the future ...
08/23/2025

This summer, we convened for a board retreat. It was so lovely to meet in person, and we can’t wait for what the future holds. Stay tuned for upcoming events!

Address

Room 2-190 Wilson Hall, Montana State University
Bozeman, MT
59715

Telephone

+14069946336

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