Party in exchange for the party acting in US interests such as fighting off anti-base protests and supporting a military alliance with the USA. 1955 election (by United States) According evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US began to provide covert funding to the new Liberal Democratic Party during Japanese elections. 1958 election (by United States) The CIA undertook a number of actions to ensure a victory for the Liberal Democratic Party. This included diplomatic measures such as persuading the South Korean government to grant Japan more liberal fishing rights. Encouraging Vietnam and Indonesia to reach reparations agreements, delivering speeches promoting markets for Japanese exports, speeding the release of war criminals, covertly offering campaign funds, decreasing military spending and promising to relax military presence on the island (a sensitive issue in Japan) and quietly recruited allies in the party through bribes. The CIA also offered payments to Japan Socialist Party members in order to weaken potential anti-American movements. 1960 election (by United States) According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian and evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US continued to provide covert funding and electoral advice to the Liberal Democratic Party, often disguising advisors as US-based businessman. By the early 1960s, annual payments of between $2 and $10 million to the party and individual politicians had become "so established and so routine," reported Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence Roger Hillsman, that they were a normal part of bilateral relations. 1963 election (by United States) According to documents provided by the State Department Office of the Historian and evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US continued to provide covert funding and electoral advice to the Liberal Democratic Party, often disguising advisors as US-based businessman. 1967 election (by United States) According evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US continued to provide covert funding to the Liberal Democratic Party during Japanese elections. 1969 election (by United States) According evidence collected by journalist Tim Weiner. The US continued to provide covert funding to the Liberal Democratic Party during Japanese elections. According to Weiner, the funding was terminated in the 1970s and he does not state if the US funded the LDP during the 1972 elections. 1972 election (by Soviet Union) The Soviet Union covertly supported the Japan Socialist Party during the 1972 elections by pressuring Japanese companies that did trade with the USSR to