What Lockheed and La Cosa Nostra Have in Common

Abstract

A comparative analysis is presented of the testimony of A. Carl Kotchian, President of Lockheed Corporation, and that of Joseph Valachi, reputed member of La Cosa Nostra, before Senate in vestigative committees. In the Lockheed case, the corporation was found to be making illicit payments to foreign officials in order to secure sales abroad. The legislation enacted following the investiga tion was the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, which established criminal penalties for any payment made by American corporations or employees in pursuit of sales contracts abroad.