Sen. Bradley Tops Disney’s Contribution List : Funding: Campaign chests of several members of Congress are aided by gifts from the firm and events hosted by its executives.

The leading recipient of campaign contributions from the Walt Disney Co. and its employees is Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.).

Disney Chairman Michael D. Eisner, an old friend, hosts fund-raisers for Bradley in Los Angeles that are attended by hundreds of Hollywood executives. One such event--co-hosted by Eisner and Michael Ovitz, head of Creative Artists Agency--netted Bradley $600,000 in 1989.

Disney and its employees contributed $31,250 to Bradley’s campaign in 1987-88 and another $46,790 in 1989-90, according to a computer-assisted study by The Times of contributions.

The $78,040 total is more than double the figure for the next highest congressional recipient. In addition to Eisner’s personal relationship, a key Disney figure noted, Bradley sits on the Senate Finance Committee--which handles tax issues that concern Disney.

Next on Disney’s list is Sen. Albert Gore Jr. (D-Tenn.), a 1988 presidential candidate. Gore sits on the Commerce, Science and Transportation panel and on its communications subcommittee. Gore received $18,500 in 1989-90 and a total of $33,500 over the past four years.

Geography is another apparent incentive in Disney’s giving. Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), who represents Disney World’s home state, received $29,200. In Disneyland’s home state, Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston garnered $18,000. And Republican Pete Wilson, California’s junior senator before being elected governor last November, took in $7,500 while in Congress.

Other major recipients between 1987 and 1990 include:

* Rep. Mel Levine (D-Santa Monica), a member of the subcommittee on intellectual property and judicial administration of the Judiciary Committee, received $20,750.

* Rep. Mike Synar (D-Okla.), a member of the subcommittee on telecommunications and finance of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the subcommittee on intellectual property and judicial administration of the Judiciary Committee, $16,500.

* Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, $13,800.

* Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), ranking minority member of the subcommittee on export expansion of the Small Business Committee, and a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, $12,469;

* Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee as well as the 1988 Democratic vice presidential nominee, $12,000.

* Rep. Vic Fazio (D-Sacramento), part of the House Democratic leadership, a member of the Appropriations Committee and a powerful advocate for the film industry, $12,000.

* Sen. John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the subcommittee on foreign commerce and tourism of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee as well as a member of the subcommittee on international trade of the Finance Committee, $11,700.

* Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, $11,500.

* Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City), a member of the House Judiciary Committee whose district adjoins Disney’s corporate headquarters and studios in Burbank, $10,000.

Indicative of the company’s increased contributions in 1989-90, Graham, Cranston, Synar, Fazio and Rockefeller received their contributions exclusively during the past two years; Disney and its executives contributed nothing to these lawmakers in 1987-88.

“The entertainment industry is a major contributor to the Democratic Party,” says Fazio, playing down the significance of Disney’s campaign contributions to specific projects or legislation. “Disney is a major employer in the area, a major contributor to the state economy. I don’t assume anything wrong (with a proposal) because Disney would benefit.”

Disney and its employees also made substantial contributions to both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates in 1988.