About
Armand Hammer (May 21, 1898: 16 – December 10, 1990) was an American businessman and philanthropist. The son of a Russian Empire-born communist activist, Hammer trained as a physician before beginning his career in trade with the newly-established Soviet Union. Having made his fortune in pharmaceuticals and whiskey, he nearly retired before coming into control of the then-failing Occidental Petroleum in 1956. He spent the next 33 years as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the company, overseeing its growth to become one of the largest companies in the US. Called "Lenin's chosen capitalist" by the press, he was also known for his art collection and his close ties to the Soviet Union.