What To Do When You’re Losing A Lot Of Money

Eli M. Black was having a bad day. His company, United Brands Company, was crippled with debt and had recently gotten into hot water with the SEC. Black had tried bribing Honduran President Oswaldo López Arellano with $1.25 million, and he was now facing serious repercussions.

Worried about government fines and possible jail time, Black went up to the Pan Am Building’s 44th floor, broke…