Editing 1976 Lockheed Bribery Scandal (section)

==Background and Context==
Lockheed’s Financial Struggles: By the early 1970s, Lockheed was in dire financial straits due to cost overruns on the C-5 Galaxy military transport plane, delays in the L-1011 TriStar commercial airliner program, and fierce competition from Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. Facing bankruptcy, Lockheed sought international sales to survive, particularly for the TriStar, which competed with the Douglas DC-10. To secure contracts, Lockheed resorted to bribery, a common practice in the aerospace industry, as later revealed by competitors like Northrop and Boeing.

Cold War and Arms Sales: The scandal unfolded during the Cold War, when U.S. defense contractors like Lockheed were key players in supplying military hardware to NATO allies and anti-communist regimes. The F-104 Starfighter, known as the “Widowmaker” due to its accident-prone design, was a major export, with contracts often secured through illicit payments to foreign officials.

Global Political Landscape: The 1970s saw heightened scrutiny of corporate influence in politics, spurred by the Watergate Scandal (1972–1974) and growing public distrust of multinational corporations. The Lockheed scandal capitalized on this climate, exposing how U.S. firms manipulated foreign governments to advance strategic and economic interests.