Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known by his alias Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. He served as the first and founding head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 to 1924 and of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1924. Lenin (help•info) (22 April 1870 – 21 January 1924) was a Russian lawyer, revolutionary, the leader of the Bolshevik party and of the October Revolution. He was the first leader of the USSR and the government that took over Russia in 1917. Lenin's ideas became known as Leninism. As noted historian Richard Pipes says, Lenin was "exceedingly modest in his personal wants", and had "an austere, almost ascetic, style of life". This is relevant, because it gives us an idea of his mindset and integrity. Yes, he could be a strong, ruthless leader when it came to it.