Daniels is a classic GOP leader, as are many of the people beneath him. Use vaguely patriotic rhetoric to take over an American institution, sell out all possible assets to foreign powers for personal profit, retire to country estate. It's been the Republican playbook since the end of WWII.
The pattern of leadership is the same everywhere; the "academic freedom being negatively impacted by a foreign power" you mention is a rot that pervades nearly all American instutions, be they academic or commercial. Have you ever read the biography of Phil Knight, founder of Nike? His incredible business insight was to take shoes made cheaply elsewhere and undercut American labor with it. We're led by Phil Knights in every sector.
The pattern of leadership is the same everywhere; the "academic freedom being negatively impacted by a foreign power" you mention is a rot that pervades nearly all American instutions, be they academic or commercial. Have you ever read the biography of Phil Knight, founder of Nike? His incredible business insight was to take shoes made cheaply elsewhere and undercut American labor with it. We're led by Phil Knights in every sector.