This is Planet Money from NPR.

It was April 1972.

Sunny and Cher were on the radio.

Mashed was on TV. Richard Nixon was running for re-election.

And all over America, corporate executives were heading to the airport.

I could only assume wearing bell bottoms, carrying those brown leather suitcases, the kinds

without wheels.

And as they made their way to the airport, maybe they turned on the radio.

The 1971 Federal Election campaign act becomes law in a little over a week.

At this point, the executives may have squirmed a little coughed nervously.

And when they got to the airport on the clerk's ass, would you like to check your bag?

I imagine they said, no, no, no, no, I'll just carry this with me.

It's a suitcase you'd want to keep in sight, because it didn't just contain toiletries

and a change of pants. This was not just business as usual.

In the weekend before April 7th, corporate executives from all over America literally flew into Washington

with suitcases filled with cash.

Like literally...

Literally flew in from all over the country with cash.

This is Fred Wartimer, lawyer in DC.

As soon as they landed, the executive probably sped to 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue,

just kitty corner from the White House.

To the headquarters of the campaign to re-elect the president, known by the acronym, Creep.

...