Armand Hammer

Dossier: The Secret History of Armand Hammer
QUOTE
Biographer Epstein does a straightforward, almost journalistic description of the life and times of Armand Hammer, considered by many to be a man of vision, humanity, and charity until details of his life began to seep out following his death. Even the New York Times gave this man a glowing obituary. But, thanks to the tremendous research done by Epstein, we see Hammer for what he was: an evil, self-serving, egomanic. And Epstein's non-sensational telling of the details of Hammer's life is appropriate; it is unnecessary to augment beyond the notoriousness of Hammer's own actions. What Hammer did speaks for itself, and Epstein catalogues his many sins. He was a traitor to his country, his family, his friends. He was such a lowlife that he allowed his father to go to prison for crime he, the son, committed. He was a perpetual adulterer. He laundered millions of dollars and had secret accounts everywhere. He drove what most believed to be a successful company to the brink of bankruptcy. But I could have done without the incessant mini-flashbacks that kept creeping into the narration. And I think it was a really bad choice to begin the book with the prologue describing Hammer's final days. It would work much better at the end, as this failure of a human being tops himself while he is dying with malicious, conniving, and deceitful steps to preserve his false characterization upon his passing. I would strongly recommend that you read the prologue at the end of the book. I would also suggest that as you finish each chapter, you turn to the source notes for that chapter and be amazed by the research Epstein did to compile his facts. He paints Hammer as such a despicable character, that you will be astounded that this character got away with his ruse for his entire life. In this day of rotten corporate big-business, the book shows the rot has been going on for decades.
UNQUOTE
Edward Jay Epstein, a Jew tells about Hammer, another Jew and the dirt of which there is plenty. The autobiography makes him sound quite a decent sort of cove.

 

Hammer by Armand Hammer & Neil Lyndon
Tells us his side of the story. It is very creditable. At the very least it has to be true that he led a full life and met lots of important people. Lenin was just one on the Russian side. There were several American presidents as well. He got on well with Leonid Brezhnev. Others did not.

The one he did not get to know was dear old  Uncle Joe who was paranoid.

Armand said that Richard Nixon was very good on foreign policy. With Kissinger he aimed to befriend Russia and China to reduce the risk of war. He saw it as important to do this at the same time for both to preclude paranoia in one of the three super powers. See Hammer 544 et seq

 

Armand helped Jews escape from Russia but they were not stupid enough to go to Israel if they did not have too. They settled for America. The Russians were annoyed pp 573-4

Zbigniew Brzezinski was Jimmy Carter's security advisor. He hated Russians after they robbed his family. This fact had consequences; see page 569. Jim got sniffy when the Russians invaded Afghanistan; page 578. Being a sanctimonious twerp does not always pay off. Leonid Brezhnev knew that the CIA was meddling there; whence his police action. Russians did not get much joy of it; page 579.

 

Libya was run by King Idris I from 1951 to 1969 after the Second World War and rather well according to Armand Hammer. Significant oil was found in 1959 making Libya much richer. It had been one of the world's poorest countries. Armand Hammer also found water which was a good move. It helped him find favour by doing things for the locals.

Oil is the significant issue for Libya and the West. They have it; we need it. This makes it a political issue. It also leads to power plays by the Seven Sisters, the big outfits in the business. One virtue of Libyan oil is that it does not have to go through the Suez Canal, a major vulnerability.

There was a take over in 1969 by  Muammar Gaddafi. His marketing used discontent with the King getting too much while people go too little.