In 1945, US intelligence officers in manila discovered that the Japanese had hidden large quantities of gold bullion and other looted treasure in the Philippines. President Truman decided to recover the gold but to keep its riches secret. These, combined with Japanese treasure recovered during the US occupation, and with recoveredNazi loot, would create a worldwide American political action fund to fight communism. This 'Black Gold' gave Washington virtually limitless, unaccountablefunds, providing an asset base to reinforce the treasuries of America'sallies, to bribe political and military leaders, and to manipulateelections in foreign countries for more than fifty years.