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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. XIV - Page 566« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Jack L. Ruby)

Mr. Ruby.
or you're half and half or you're indifferent to the way you feel about your country and how much you love it.
When he stated to me a moment ago, "Are you 100 percent American?"---that's the way you feel about your country. I don't know how to state it but first of all, I want to make sure I've got my flags in both colors--that doesn't show any overt--but inwardly, I'm a very unstable person. I'm very lax in certain details and things, and yet for the emotional feeling and the feeling for giving my life and for loving this country is so great, that I think when You asked me that question, "Are you 100 percent American?" and if I answered the truth, it will greater effect than any other way you can ask me.
Mr. Specter.
Mr. Ruby, we can cover that one in a specific question, in another general question, on whether you have told the complete truth here today. Are there any other topics which you want to cover?
Mr. Ruby.
Oh, yes, sir. Has any of the underworld ever contributed money to me for my clubs, or was I put in here as a front for the underworld or things to that effect. I mean--this has a relationship to criminal intent.
Mr. Specter.
We've asked you the question if the underworld had any connection with the shooting of Oswald.
Let me now ask you for the record while you are under oath, whether you were put in here by the underworld?
Mr. Ruby.
No.
Mr. Specter.
Did the underworld contribute in any way to the financing of any of your clubs?
Mr. Ruby.
None whatsoever.
Mr. Specter.
Have you had any connection or association in any way whatsoever with the underworld during the past 17 years you've been in Dallas?
Mr. Ruby.
Never have.
Mr. Specter.
Now, we'll ask you in a few moments with Mr. Herndon, whether you've told the truth, and that will be covered--that will cover this underworld question.
Mr. Ruby.
Just the one question is enough to cover it?
Mr. Specter.
Mr. Herndon advises that it is.
Mr. Herndon.
I can ask that question and have it a matter of record.
Mr. Ruby.
You see, there are so many things that I know in the minds of the people in Dallas that you're not concerned with, that maybe I was put here as a front of the underworld and sooner or later they will get something out of me that they want done to their advantage.
Everything I have had financed, my brother Earl has contributed the money for or Ralph Paul, a friend of mine, has loaned me money.
Mr. Herndon.
Mr. Specter, if I can interrupt--on some of these questions you are recently discussing here are more or less in the area of emotions and the area dealing with advance psychology or of a psychiatric nature, and although I can ask them if you so wish, they are questions that don't necessarily lend themselves to the polygraph technique.
Unless you can specifically break them down to a clear cut question which could be answered truthfully "Yes" or "No," that involves a specific action or emotion that he can recall in regard to a particular action, then it would not be a good question here.
Mr. Specter.
I agree with you.
Mr. Herndon.
You see, this 100 percent American type question doesn't necessarily lend itself to polygraph examination.
Mr. Specter.
I agree with your conclusion, but what we're trying to do now is to cover all of the important substantive questions which I think we have. After Mr. Ruby tells me that he is satisfied with what we have covered, I propose to ask the same question of Mr. Fowler and Mr. Alexander and also Mr. Tonahill, so that we will have covered the subject matter. We will do our utmost to be all-inclusive here, so that whatever effect the polygraph can gage as to Mr. Ruby's truthfulness, we will do so.
Mr. Ruby.
Let me put it this way: Here I run a nightclub. I run a night-club and on Friday this tragic event happens and I get carried away more so than anyone else. Why? Why was I so sick mentally or so carried away?
I immediately replaced my newspaper ads so that I would be closed for those
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