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.

WASHINGTON — 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.