Armand Hammer

Brian J. Zeiger — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:56:49 +0000

In 1976 Hammer was convicted of illegally contributing $54,000 to Nixon’s campaign. He made the convictions under a false name. The underlying act of the conviction was in question at the time of the time Hammer made his original plea. The judge rejected the initial plea as a result of this information. Two years later, Hammer acquiesced and admitted his guilty.

Hammer, the self made millionaire doctor, received a great amount of criticism for his business tactics, but was a true philanthropist. Many thought Regan would pardon Hammer at the end of his second term, but he did not. George H. W. Bush finally pardoned Hammer, and Hammer was apparently very grateful for the pardon.

Armand Hammer

Iran-Contra Affair

Brian J. Zeiger — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:18:44 +0000

The United States sent guns to Israel, who sold the guns to Iranians. The Iranians paid the Israelis for the guns. The Iranians helped to secure the release of hostages as consideration for the right to buy the guns. Israel paid the United States for the guns. The United States, under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, diverted a portion of the proceeds of the sales of the guns to a separate fund to support the anti-communist and anti-Sandinista, Contras, from Nicaragua.

At the time of the arrangement, Iran was under a weapons embargo, so the United States could not simply sell them weapons. Further, the United States could not be seen in a pay-for-play where the United States was seeking to trade weapons for hostages.

While evidence does exist that then President Reagan was a supporter of the Contra cause, no evidence has ever been uncovered that proves that Reagan never anything about the arrangement of guns for hostages. Not so ironically, Reagan’s Vice-President, George H. W. Bush, became president and then pardoned those involved in the affair.

Federal Presidential Pardon» Bush, H. W., 1989-1993

Armand Hammer

Iran-Contra Affair