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FIVm Wushir.gron LawJ,v:r, Vol. 15, No. 8, Apn1 2001, pages 30-)5 (WasJt.instoo. D.C.1

]be District of Columbia Bar)Copyr igh12001 by the District ofColum.bia Bar .

Reprinted by penoission of the publisher.

Charles F. C. Ruff BYDANIELB£c••·

eriodical!y The Washington Lawyer fea­

tures a conversation with a .se11ior membt.7 of the IJ;,trict of Columbia Bar reflecting on his

or her career as a lawyer. The ''Legends in the Law" are selected by the District of Columbia Bar� Publi­cation, Committee on the basis of their prominence in their profession and their individual impact on the law and the legal profession in the District of Columbia.

On Nwember 19 , 2000, the D . C. Bar lost one of its gen­uine legends when Charles F. C. Ruff died at the age of 61. The Washington Lawyer has chosen to remember Ruff it1 both the words he left behind and the reminiscence, of

those who worked closely with him.

A former pr,sident of the D . C. Bar, Ruff WO! a 1963

graduate of Columbia Law School. During the course of his career, he served;,, the U.S. Department of Justice, the US. Department of Hetdth, Education and Welfare, and the

Wate,gat. special prosecutor's office, and he was the U. S .

attorney far the District of Columbia, eorporatiot1 counsel

for the District of Columbia, and counsel ta President

Clinton. At the time of his death, Ru.ff was a parh1er at the law firm of Covington & 811rli11g.

• Al •

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i

Chules t . C. Ruft\,,-as born in CIC\'¢·l11)d , Ohiet. io 1939, 2.nd J,c- gtc\"' up in New York Ci!)' ( com the 3!:l,'C ofcbrtt.

•sraning in l9-t5; he r«llle<l in ,.2000 in-:tn1iew for a O.C. Cil"C'Jit CDU.ttorol his.;ory p rojc c.-. "my mothe r bc:cam-e tli c public fdttiot1sdi(C('101of Ulc Metro•

po!it:m Opera. I h:ad th most cxtra.Ordi­nn;y e>:pcricnoc:s gro\,ing \IJ) for thir m. • �on. Almost C\·e,y Sm mlar w 1'.¢n the

opera ""l$ in feas<m, I W\1Uld gQ Mwn to tht' ol d Metropoliran Opera f'fou.,;e on 39th St1cc1 3l'ld s.r,cnd S1itord11yaf1emoot1 !Lmnir.g t'l th.c open i.r. the 2udi�nc c orb;i,ch;:;.gc. I ,�m 25 Saru«b.y nftemoons: 1. Vtat a t the Mc.f. ..

· That c:<Jktiencc i.mbu�d Ruff with ;1.

l ifel!Htg love af 1t1ubt:.1n rh: late 1950s Ruff cnmUcd : it

Sw:mhmorc Co llege, ;nd 11foer gr.ulu:1.1-

ing in 1960 he cr,rolled aJt Col;im bia Law School , when: h:: ,w.s 1n a mbit�· knt hw srudent,

�1 absolutely dtttsted law scltool. In th:: fi..-n year, I spent a lot of time lo oking111 othe:r d,i.ngg, like joining the PeaceCorp; or ml:ir-.g,. tramp m-•mcr a.round t.hc- world. .•. J wu of tbe g1ou.p tku wi:nt :o l:w �choo! l-<ornse th�l's '"Jui}-OC.1 did .ind bcc1us.c }-0'.1 ,mild dQ J.ny·

thing aft:r 1:iw school. 1 nc,·cr h2C a shin­ing gOll 10 prw;tit c in :i pmk11br Geld . Ibecame iruc rt:stcd in a-imiru.l bwbccau;eof :i. VC!)' cojur.-.b!c cri ni.inal pro«:dum cb,s d,ll: I uxik 10 mr lfCUnd )'cl.I,"

During his thi.rc! )UJ ofliw sci\ool, 11.nintriguing opporroo i ty prestmed itself ,fu1 11�i.su!�U dean :u C olumbia. mk<'.d. a no�ce on a bulktin board in\i1i11g St11·dcJ 1b in :cra1cd in l:: 11:hb1g l:1.w in Afric-J

(O con.11ct the d,an•� office� •1 1,sked my wife Sue i..f sh: 1\/';U iutt t •

ts.tcd, 'llld she- !,1.id, 'Wh)' not?' l b3d the sttlSC that i 1 \>'\U a tiu'lc �o do something tot.illy diHcrr nt."

ln. l>«:emba 1963 Ruff nnd his: wife rook off for Liberia.

'D..c uci,'t:�il)' C-.l!'.llj,'W ,,·is wlm Onewi,,.tld im3gine sucl1 2:11 inr.iwt:ion in A&k�wm1!.d look like :it :h:it time, lt w-as a krics

of cnc·sW:-f bcilding-s. The l:tw Wlo:>! cor . ­�J.;ed Qf ,wo tbssroc.nns-, :.m offi�. �uxl llJlai : •c orr.ditioocd room ,ve med ,;,_; a libr.uy, Fur tOUr bwycrs j;1s1 cur or bw scl'IOO! wboi1:u:l 10 t1:�clt, buy bool;.l fr►: the �1 :�rr, u..d:1d rr,ini,�r the �-hool, it w;is :in cr,';,l'\'ITitlm·ing c,cperj�ncc.11 wa:; al!<, :1 k>• o(fu.'I.,.

A )'t:ir nfter Ill$ n.-riva! i.n Liberia , Ruff(Orttrne1ed a undi11g

11osed \itUf t.lm re •)1!]1� in par.ii.pis bdcw tht wU1t, ;mJ lie

sp,cntthc rur of M life using a wht-elcbai r . As dev.u11tit1g 1IS 1.he diseue wu, Rutrp,td'cttc-d 10 look on the bciiht side, bc:lie\h­ing tlut he w:'1$ fortun:'lu: ro have su,vi\'ed.

''We wen: ,�1y tu.ck) · beeauK die batdonor in Lib«i;t was :i neighbor. Oth;r­,..;sc I probably would not ha"e m.tdc it."

After a y�:u-of ,cb:1bilit1.t:ion, RutT viJ.ited Wm;hii ig:on, D.C., ht 1966 tf> 111cmla convenrion, Ar the rim e, he ,"1.$ teach· ins bw :it dtc-Uoi\�tsityof Pcomylw,ni:l. On 11 whim he decided to st0p in 3t 1heOtpamncnt a( J11:1ti«, whe n: he t.tlkcd"'ith iomc h\,}'elT i.n tbc org:mneJ crime!«:tlon. Shortly ;h�e:ifti:r, he Wll$ ofiCfeda job in t he smio n.

'"'lbc-ir "'<>'k sccmcJ ;1 lo1 mo,� inic, ­esting t ha. n t c:u:hins," he m:3.llcd ,·("l'hc}•) pursued the Nd git}'5, It was ,·ti)'ek:u who was good an d wlw wasn't,1'1tese w::is a trtmel.'ld o11.1 Cn<18.)' i.n thc­[o,gtni� cri 1rtc} 1ect:ll11 .. 11\at period&om 196i to 1970 w.u aciti,\5-J �t t>\11 ofbo:d CVCI)' mom

izig fo:li n g I.Jut wlr.u Jdid wi,is worthwhil(: :ind fim .:

From 1970 ro 1972 R1 �ff hea ded du:Org:miud Crime U'.d Labor M:.uu�· menr Secti<1 : 1. Durbg that Cm� l:c !eJ the prwcc.irion of W . A . 'Tony· RO} ·lt:, deehc:1d af the United Mine Wf>rlom u:iion,wh.o W?IS wmiacd of mlkin g illcg:il am­paign wnujbution , .

For rhc 197 2-73 �chD()] )'C"J.r, Ruff d c ­dd«l to rcnirn to iex.hing, :11 AntiachSchool of L:iw . which h.J.d juSt opw«l i�doots dm Scpccmbc -r, Mc wu only there 'l �-nr. bu1 hMI a gr�t ii.me.

�Ami«h was oo a dar-to·di y lxt.s is 1hc si.rtafc most �citi1 l.g job l ever had. The scbuol wu i.n wr ne dilapidated officicspite o,� 19th Sttct. We btJ studc :us who'¼'\'fc:11r.1ig l11 out c,ftb,.. '60:t 11td�1rly•;as :in-:iw.u mm:cment .. Tbrn: v.-ain't a &,y withnu t 1oom<' l:i.11d o{ hn·oc. h Yr.1$ l.

yc.v of riotous livin__g."Th e follt)wing ye-u k mci,-c,dan offe-1

f'iom 11k Cc or:;i:1owo tJ1U\"Crsity L aw Center, :'l!ld after \t«c?tiog he W'J.S offered fl job i.n 1hc: W11tergatt spcci:1 1 �,:o(soffice. Ccorgcwwn :eful)N lu rde-J.it !Uu?

from hii tei,:;hing mn1.r.1r:, w he Wt>rkc.iitwo iulHimc jobs thr<mg hc111t ,he 1973-74 :ic:ldcmic )'tM.

Ruff worked iii die W'ltctg,uc 1pei:falpro:1Ccuto r's office for four yu.� ir.t! c 1:rn· :u:illy took th:irgi: oflt ::ifter Leon J:iw-:m:la Sl¢p?Cd .\Side� Alrhough the c onvictionsrcfat;d to the Water�lc bw,;}try \•'de 1.be mos t ae�u31lon1l. the 1fl('cia! pr.:i>cCl.llOf'j office d e•,'t'lt�'i l ntO'lt its tim:: im'C.."lfi�ting1111d pr�cmtlng both indi\idu d s :iid .:o r ­po rrnions for illsg:il c-ormibutions t o Pres.• Mi(,111 Nixol'l's 1972 ,e c-kt-tfo,, ea1npai,gt1.

Lloyd Cutln, wh o tni:l .Rdf whea thC )' inr,'C.Srig:ucd the he.id of Americ:m .-\i.rl irics for $uspi·e iaw contributio n.,, re·e:illed hls fim im p�s.io m.

�chuck Ruff W,15 \'t:ry se nsible-, \'el}' falf, ;mJ would open hit 1:UnJ W you.. Then: was something 21,o ut J1is l1cing in 2\t'l1c.¢l chair thu added wTI3t the Euro­peuis-ci.11 gn,<,7tlfl to what he said.•

Ruff antiaunted the closing of tht\V,mrg:ue office in Jur.e l9ii . Shonly

"He inspired all of us

to take on public service."

-J <lmie Gon1Bck

thcrenfur, Pt¢$id::mt C:mi:r nomin �t«I Ruff to b e dC'p-\l

t}' i.nspcctor gcnm) of theU.S, Dcpamntnt <>f Meahh, £dt1cation 3.."\d_ Vlelfatc {HE\V), His oonfumuion was st:illc d , bowtvet, b}' Senator Robcn-01Jle or Ki.ns:as, wl)() h-1.d bc«t d1e � ·ic eptesi.dentlj) caudi4ue on LJ}e Rcpublicau :id«:t in 1976.

During the ea.mp: 1ign ne-ws rqxuu sutf:.m:d -.tUcgin g tha l t!i.e Ford -Dok.::a :np:iig,1 bitd :tilei�·cd illcpl c onui.bu­cioru. The Republia.ru Cenun di:d th�t­Ru .ff, who w:a ftill w1Jrki.ng in the spcd:Jprosu::u1or'S: q!fo:c, dt"U the cunp:iign oftht$C alleg.,,tions . R11ff did so

, bur not

1mtil Ocmber 14. Dole fdt d1:i1 this cxooerution c:m�

too d� ro the ¢kcrion, .,,n,c1 s.hould ha, '¢ l'akcn plaoe c::irlict. Atld i t was Ooie•spique tltu kJ Ji.im to b old up Ru.Ifs lip·

1,oirttmtnt for two llKl:lths, io 3. m:'ltlcum1h:1t d:c: m:1Jhir1sror. Po11 den o11..11C'.Cd 1ts a ·,ti!Jy g:amc." E\·cn :ualJy, Ru!!' w-.b' �-o,t­flrmo:d bv tlic full S-ert:!11: , :u·1d 1Usdu.1itt::i.1HEW i�ch1dcd rondng am �1cdic.,rc i1mlr,.•lcdiaid fr,ud.

ln 1m Pr�idcnc Cance oomin•c«I R\1i'i:' to be the U.S . atto rney for th e Dis· uict ofC.:ilumb-ia. A Wa,l•ins_t,rr Pr:-lf sw,y:at tl:c bm� ll3id th� chl)it:t of Ku f f Wti itte•si�riblc bc:a,isc 1.nycne wo uld b:c "in nn un·t,;n:tbae f(lrition OJlpos ing R\1ff bc,.'!11,)fc of b i s high qualific�tiont."

A� U.S. :lHO:i•cy, R alf prcsi(kd o,-ct the 1 1:qi;erulicmS:of two 1i:-e1 : 1b,: n; ofCon­gf¢$$ i 1wvlvcd in the Ab11.·mo �nd1.I . ·n�ugh Ab sc11m is v,.1gu.dy rcmcmhc:«il'IO,\'. tbos.e in bw cntom;:uem whowork«I on tl�t di� -an: o.:mr.nOO(i th11t :1 :e

in\·cs:ig-at fonJ" ltdpcd reduce amuplion i.nthe U.S. C oogn:1>- s ,

Crtgory B. Cl"J jg . wh.o would li.i:.r

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wo1k with Ruffin the defcim: of Pmi•dtnt Cli.11101i duti11g 1]� U:lpi:-,iclu nem proccc-dinr, 6m mtt Rutt after the ; 1J •

rusinatinn atu.mp1 on Prcsido:m Re-.a.g:u,in 1981. Crnigwupnnof th e Willfa.m,& Co!lnoll)' <kfcnsc te11m that rtpte.sen :cd the 1..:cused us�ibm. Job.-t Hiocldc\', :'ltld R\1F. wns rdpon!Cib!c fc.>r rhc pm.,eti'.'itio :i .

.-h \n$ 11 terrible c;;rime ," Cf:Ug rc­Wkd. "Chuc k h:J.d-tom¢ tough dutiC$. A t01 1c 1X'lint )1e Ind 10 aik us. what kind o f,a1tuuu1Uciu1i our client bad uicd, b«.1�sc: ,a D.C. JX>litt otrl<:C'l' who h�il bi:1:n :(ht>! h-ad :1 t,,;,Un lodged in his neck, -and tltc do..:tors nc«l«l 10 know ifi1 w11s "�)o d ­ing3m.munition, The d0ctol'$ v."'C:cdcl».r� ing: wltcthet 10 opc:r:11c. Chuck calkd Md ni.d he uodmtood tl1ede1ic-.t<y of the Sil• ua,;1>11 fron1 th.-: JXli.111 of ...;;:w of lhedicn(,. riillf:i, bm he r.c'\·cr :,Qsgc,1cd lln)' wrt 1Jf tn:l;)' �rcemcn1 :cgarding how hemight w e tl,o: infom1:ltion. He undo::•$TQOd rh:ir we were profwi(1n : 1.h 11nd \':ll ­ucd life fim and fu.."CmoU. We p the in­form:ition 1(11 him."

Hiocklcy'.s defon5e ·inomC)'$ C\'Cntu· ally prCt,Cnied , SUCC¢Ss.fol inu,ni-)' de­

fense lbr Hin(kli:)', Twcmy )'eJ.K b1.:rCnig s:ud tb11t h(. w:is gb,d Ru.ff wni Je:w ·i•)S the- U.S. anome)'s offitt \tt the time,bet'aUSe ifh e foul S,'l;\)'cd, die }' ,night have h::W 1. tOUil;hc-t ti.me in court.

·r h11d the foeling that Chuck bad aJi.fTocnt 11<0,c o{ J1ow 10 try tht ca.!c. Iw·.u \'tr)' liawr tliat Chl.tclt ·,,•,u Mt on t he other :1id c . beou!c I think he might l�ebeen more dTecth'C."

(n t9S2 Ru ff joined elie law fi rm ofCY.ing ton & Hu.r !ing , w l1c1c l,.c had a il t ­rics of high·pro61 e �itic;il <fano;, in• d1.1ding $cn:trors John Glenn a,:i! JnhnMcCain. Glcon was on,e of the ootorio"i MKuti.ttg fh ·e· a.:cused of in terfe ringwitJ, tl1e frdc1al i1WCSlig:'itio 1t or Charl e�Kc:u-jng :1..1.d Llocoln Sarin� and Loan, Ahl1ough Clenn admitted tce ci\•ing$200,0CO in c,mpiige� mntrihutiam CrimiK.::l!in_g, Ruff :arl:o:d tl10: S.::1:t!o: Se!«tC ommincc or , Ethk.s ,o dc,�rmin ewhe d1c: Gt:,m w:is "$Olllchc:rw, in ,omc fasbio!l u yet undctcrwlned. inllucrr.icd hr �Cr. Kc: 1ti1ig '$ oo,itrihutian�.-

Ru!{ dcm;mdcd th:it thccominincc d1Jmore th:an follow th e mon ey 1ni!; hi: Je•mandc,d thM it produc:c C\idcncc of im·p 1opu ictiou on the past of Scn11tor Gli:m'l. h w:l$ :a oompcl!i.1� defcr.sc. 'lndSen�rQr Cler.n, l ike Scn:iror McC:a.i11, ,v:u; c:tuoc-ntcd,

fn 11:ie �unmet of 1992 the ne...,-s- broke t.lut m�rnbcri of v-. .. 1,--i:1ia Scn.'ll◊t Charl�Rohb'tsufflnd �uiliot:iptrof private lck·phone com·�n::d(lml ofGo\·tmo, L.. Oou-

gl:is \Vilclc r, who w.as l polcnlial lxm°"­ro.tic f.limary op;,oncot (01 Robb's Sc:o:m:­k at. [he lkp1rtmcnt o( Jus.-tiee i11itiar ed :i.n imi:ttipfion :uid r«eid g:Why pleu h<.m1 lt1)hb's mff for il!c.giill}' mpin.g \Vi!dci$ ttll.ul..r phone OQn\-CUatfons..

.A.s the i.n,-cstig.uion pr�dtd, Rua"devised :1 str:ucgy wherein S.::n:itor Robb .:ipp e:irod before the grnnd juiy " n 1w o SC?J,r:ttc occ-.lltons. :i.nd R1.1« bad 2, !iigh·

"Chuck was, in a very real sense,

a do-gooder his entire life."

-Uoyd Cuti tr

r:inki.ng Ju:sri« D cp;anmcm ofnciaJ c .x•}•l::Uo 10 dte gt:1nd jUJ'}• tl\-at tht ,uccnbC'nv..�e oot bou..'W to follow tbt ptomutodrccommtl'ld:ui1>1isc ior an indictrnen t. Ul •timatdy the gn11d M• �ru�d to i.1>dict Robb, :ltld Rufi' wu aedi1ed by tbo�c: wl,(I followed dte i:3!c \\ilh .111\':ng the

$Ctulor &om a potcntUI mwdil th.:11 cc>Uld lm·e h:idly d.:i�gied his 1 :id for n : ­dcction in 19?•1.

Jami e S. Gordid:, former preside nt o!

the O.C. B�: ,nd former U.S. d�pllt)' lit·

tomey�ncn.l. po im«I Ol.lt :at 1 tntmori-.il

for Ruff th11t he ''was t he lawyer. of choice

focemb.trtkd ttnatOI'$," In 19S9-90 Rufi' aho �ct\'ed a s pte9·

den t of the D.C. Bu, He i s warmly r c ­incmbcttd b}' Executi� Di.tccr0t K: uhcr­inc A. Mau:Ucrti..

•Chuck Ruff m!d1:s i.n a speci:'l! p!:lccin 1h c l1t.trts ru,d_ nllnds of di.Ok whu v.vrktd with him u O .C . Bu pre sident.He bn:iug)it JUS mor.:: t?i:t.11 conl;:i!er.Wlef di:ilb:01hciJ!fllof.id.n.g,hcR.u. Hcg;wce:tc h is= hiJ c ompkte :tttc ntion, -aoalr ! ,i ', :and ti.me. :11 ; tho-Jgb it t�c I.be only

f m:aner on b i$ pbte, He dealt with the

; naff with -a humanity and rup«t 1h31 J: W3S airupl)' speci:l!. } "'Each o fw chaislu:, <1u r 'Chnc:l:' !11 <>­l ries. \Ve arc grateful thu he ih:i.:ied a { pi� oflUmsclf iod hi-1 life wi1h u� . He. ,. w� io,-cd a.nd is S<lrdy mis�."

Dwfog Ills term u p:csidc-i1l, Ru.IT t'"..tOltg{}' suppi)rted pm b1.m() aml u.rb-t<Igm'trnrr..cnt :igtnc:ics ro ease tC$iric-tionJ th�1 pJC"l'e:med g0\'e:1ome:ot b.wytrs Crom bc-L'lS mote ncth'C in. p:-o bo ,i o teprest11.1a ­tion. He a],: o i.njtihlled the Ba.trit:e

�nbi:rg Aw :m l , whkh is Jlfeftntied annui'IUy TO a D.C . &r member w hose. care« in g'l)','Cr ome:nt rcfl«.u the il ighe.s1 nrdcc of public sef \•icc Lri the mditio-n �•

by RoSffib«g,. In :a.dditi<>n. Jic m:idc hi s

df)' wir t\'ailabk to 3ll mcmbt·� of the Sat in hi$ Pr cs.ldent'$ Page, G. fc:ntul'C ofTJg Wmhing:Gn l.4u')>::r .

Hi:re � ::e p:ir-Jtr:ph from "ni: of his

co!umn1: "I rcccntlr WJ.1 tre:.rod ro 11n <:.X ·ample of tlie io.iti-,ti\·c tod i�i.n:.i.ti o11 th�, b�vc � Ain erict11 bu.<iiness grt1t. J rccdVt:d n b: fro.·u 11n enrrcpttncur wbo has �liken spc,illlii:iti.on 10 f1ew heights {or

<kpthr ) . E,:preij.ing ocm�m fo:- the ltei,1•hurdc"' thar fall on har prcsldient$, he o f ·ferr::cl 10 tdie\'C me: o( 01)e of 1 nir.e by "Tit · ing the Pmident';;c Pai;e. T:iling tllis as a subtle, IY.,t pob:ed , <om.mmt on th: qu:.J • ity of my Jltt\iowi dfom, I r::j ecu�-:! sheoffer 01n of h�Dd. Pcrb�ps. thoug h , I :mod too hntiJy. 1, l

inle t•cgg:.' N'ooo:1.n· l :kc thetoric might well bi,'<' made th�1:ciwucs

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o (Tl:-1 Wa1Ci11gt� L.m�Yrval.ual,k rolkc­tot', items. Abs, )'OU will sinip!)' ha\� tu imagine wfou sirukling prose. mig ht h:ivegnccd :.hl, pag-e!

At the ouuet of PwJden; Clinton'$flm ren:n, R uff \\'J.1 ptomi1>c1�t1y tncn· tio11td 3$ a poni.l>k cl1oicc: for dcput y2t-1orney gencul, but rhc nomin-ufon

r.e•:cr m.ttcrialiud. , owing, i 1

1 pur. to

oonccros O\'tt Social S«'aril)' withold:ng

c.m <lo:nt�'lic: tmployus. "E, •cn Ch11ck 's di sappointment$ were

-craviablc� · · 001cd Cocdid;. �rlt• misJu hA\'C �n dql'Jt)' llllOffll:)' 8t1)trn!, kit i t

w·,1.im't to b e . So wfm di.d h: do? He in • :.p t�J �II of ,1$101 :,.ke oo pl.lb-lic:i::rvi� hra-grccing to be corporntion counsel [fot

ehe Oistrin o(Colun,bia] , 11,e. tow11 W\'IS li1c1:illy abun. f r made c,thers step back

:tP.d thin k :1bout thei: cuccN :10d what

difrcrai.C0 ll1ey C'Ould mrtl:c.�Th.ii e:me ;ibtnt io 1995, wlicn Ruff

�pttd May or Marion B:iny'$ <1! :ci tQ

head t he Office of the Corpomion

Co uc\:d {OCC). Juclgc Johi 1 M . ferrcn, in t l..q.,il

'rim11 m�rn(lrbl wrincn abcr.1: Ruff, ,�id ,··w1-�n Ch1.1ck Ru ff !!greed ro b«omc

corpot.ltiM coumc-l for the District of Columbia,[, like m.:.u1y o thcrt, wts asttm·i:sbcd, b ci::lusc the job to be doi1c k'!rno:l.so di-ffirolr, gi,· en a hi.:i;ory of in.1<k.qua.erCS0',1n:cti, :ind bc:c:1usc Chitr.k obviO"Js lycould h:.l \ ·c ttkcn oo �ny number of more. glamorous, high-p1ying pooitioM. Uu: n011t of 1.h11t m.:.tucr cd to Chuck. Vc.1y simply, h.c w1n1ed to help tlut city111td il'i p«lp!e-ptrio<l. tt

At the 1im c he took th e job , Rt1ff toldtl1,e- W"ihingtrm Pol!, "]'� wn of bc(:n (iiek-ing up the phone with wn1c m:pid:·rior. bcuui-e fm W\"lrticd the person i�going (O tillY, 'Yo1.1'rc crnzy.'"

In �pl:tini.ng why be deti<lcd to le;cvehi, tucr.iti�'I: prJ'r.ne pmric-e -.ind th diel).C, go-.-emmem ()l)Siti.rin, Ruff $a id, "I've be,::µ :,1; rePd em o( tbts ci1 y for 2S r�.rs. and I can thi nk of no greitcr h-onot than to help the Di sukr :addtcss some ofdtc proWcrm 1.bat it (:ices:

Lloyd Cutler h!l.1 since- s:lid th111 Rufi'sde cision did ,·,or s� •rpti!e him, "\Ve ufe

lh c te11r1 ,Jo-i.!J:.·ltt il'I :I dcro,S-J.tO:')' fe;lk,but Chuck wu, in 3. vet')' real se-n�e. i do• goodt:I' his emirc life:

Ru!f thti:w himself i.ntc> dtc job withu:tl. H: used !1it aum«1ioat insidt: th.:Otpa.-tin cm af Jw11ce It > <:1bmin unm;i:,d gim:mmen1 rnmpc:.ren fur OCC. He de· wi:ed :1 gra:J.I ,!�11 of enefiy 10 l:dping dt,;city'$ childr¢n, �od he inspired thcJ1mk¢Dcr1mncn. r,') st arr :a. ju��i

le criin¢ pre ·vemion J►rog:-.110, Hi; ;.il;o wotkctl dosdy,\ith U.S. A«oroey Erk H . Holder Jr . io.nwcing 1hc Dimi ct's StlO)fller jobs p,-o• ,!;11 .lll 1'I SU«df.

lit 1996 Ruff SJl<lke t1 > 1.hc gr;,Jtming dm.:s <)f G<:orgctQwn Univc::fi ty l;.w Jt'n·&:1

11:i, ;wd cncom:igcd (hcrn (c.> co1\00�chow much good they wuld do as la.wye:-s .

"l' or t\'C:'}' t:1Jc of ;a h.�'1'<:l'who riuhe,h.) Lb e sccue of :i diune1 or brndt 1.b1:

elhie:il rules ,11 I<,)(;!}:,; rhc<:>thtr w:1r ;15 hl$ diem rcrpcru�;ci, -1 fr.1\ 1d, there ar c ll b unclr;d tal cs tlm :,.re 11.evcr 1old o(lawyers who ate the bs1 n:oon for 1 1:c de• fen�lui ..•. The degree you receive

ux!:J.y i� :.i. p:isf;J)Orl 10 :, to:'>V:lt:.! ing life, hdoes r.-ot sign

i1)' tha 1 you .ue wi�r or

belle!' than )'OU: fdh:,w.; . 1 t due-; 11C>t f;i\·e )'0-U tht :ight 10 da.im sonH: 1miquc :ibil•ity tu 5-epllrn!e gcxKI frnm e,,,jL It ,00

gi,-c )'OIJ the oppotru:i.it)' 10 ae:--·t il'I W3)'ilth:u o :herJ camm:.�

In 1997 Ru.ff k.ft the Office. of the Cori'l()mion CouMcl t o mo\'i; to t he

Whi1e Hou$C, where he. w.is counsel tothe prc�ident, At the time, the ume

Mortici. lewi.n.ik}' wt3 !l.1 1111l:n1>\\1! 10 dtcAmc.ric:i.., puh!.ie, ;wd dc.1pi rc the ongoir.gWbitew:im invcstigition, Ruff h.:.td 110\ 'Ill)' of knowing: o( the- mtdSUOl'/'I th:!.t w:11 e¢11lUis, But tluous;lw'\lt tlte Lewi:1•$ky :lt:tmdlll 11:d t he impi::chrrn:nt I hat

foUO'�d, Rll.ff remained a low··profil c ;id­\'OCate for his dic-ni , an<l 61.1((«sfoUy de­fended Pru.idem Climon du.-ing his ui:d in the- U.S. Sen-ate.

Ruff is pu.)ktb}y lx>1 rcmcmb exd f o1hi.s o,petl.iog St11i:Otcat, i:1 whidt ht: int.die1ht arguniei111h11 the prc�dcnt's o!i"enr.c did no� :-a.eh t ht le-rd of-h:gh aimei 1.1dmiWc·!l'l,:a.'1orS0

11=s1::Lry w jui�it;.· (W"C:•

h1ming 1hc up�,�I will of th e d�·tour:. Tn his :lpc(Ch wrapping ur rhc

Hou�e nun:agcrl im pe21;h mi;o1 c:ase, R,:p�cntmi"e Henry Hyde of IlliAoi s h:.d inl'okcd the hcrofam of Americ anfighting men who Ji.,ul di«! o,, die -b11de-­field. :and Ruff :'(:;ponded co th.is emo• tional appeal byooti.ng iliu his fathct hadlanded ;'II Not111�11dy cu O•l>J.y ;and 1.!u1t

Mhe didn't figh1. no 011t fought. for or .tside of chis em or the o tbet . He fo uih1

/IS :Ill rho!c did for <x,i count ry :md 1111.r

Ccz 1stitutio11." fo looki:1g back on Ruffs dcci3:-Cm 1. 1 >

mmti<rn } 1 iJ futher, Gregory Cmig re· c11ltcd, ttChuck w,u dcre.rmined 1:01 10 pi:ri 1malb.c d 1i11g,;, btll :here wnc '1<.> mJr.y mc.r.rio1u oHmt!cTicl d.s .i.nd cer.,c.·r:ri es :a.nd wh:n thnose f ighring men w1;1111d $11Y from tl 1c other Ade , Defor e Jus pre-­$tnmtfon Chuck a;k ed D.t\ ·id Kcndlllland me ifwe sh<1uld :1:1.s,,-e, in kind. \Ved!m1..st'd it bcfo-td111nd, but we <fidt'i'tki.1ow wfuu he htd in mind. h w.i.s b,iJ. li :1:1 : . He 1••.1s ,o en:<►l iund :1fterw:u,:ll. ft!Ouk him 1.bout 20 mi1m1c:1 10 jpdu:.rl1in:.�df :ig:i.in . Th:r WI!$.\ powerful mo·mcnt for hi.m."

Afo:rwacd Hyde lldd 110 i l l will to• wl!d Ruft: He cccen dy told the l.q,al Timn, •(Ru!i'} w:a$ :a �•:tlcnun :incl :i.n cxo:l!em b.wy i:r ••. . Ht w:,; <orn�ne whose word WM good,"

Ct"J.ig al so poi.ntcd 0111 thlll thou,i;:11Ruff i s wcll 1tmembc1td by tfo: publ ic foti1U 1ppc:u11ncc hcforc. th1: Sen&te, hi:1 bcr,work had oomc 1,efo,c, when he :i.nd Da\id Kendall �d rew a ,1ery furn line " on what 001\$tinued ly ing undCt oath.

·rhJ it i iot bcc1i dea.r tha t tlu,: W:1$

:10 wJ. y wt '-''2ft.: goin g It.> a:,m:cde (;rimi•ml condu ct, we w.,dd h:wc b een pqhcd

. ,16.

fotevet,tt Cl'li_g said. "Se:,:l.!M O:iochlc

11nd Rkhard Gephardt wrutc !:ttt'l to thi: pmjdcm s:aying th:u he \\·.un't l.>cin gm!U f:Cl'\•t:d by hi.$ fa 1 \·ycn. It w;u :i di.ffi• cJlt spot to be in, bec:iusc the lawyers

we« lxcing :1111.e.kc,:L 1 tbi1 ik Chuck �\·e,:l111� pre.�i<!ettL

' 'l.it.i,gar i.ng lawye� ,<rill ;;pprecin: t heiinmtion. There. w:isoon stant pre;surc fur:1 de:11, 111d ht ,:lid, 'No way: Chuck vn,most d?ccti:\ ·t bceau,:c he took t.J,,c pc.>Si• 1i011 he did 1'r.tho111 !lpol1>g)', l;l}iug, Tni1is wb�t lri'\')'¢1$ do.' "

Crnig bdie\"c-$ rbat Ruff s�w 1hi:cc-.lk�the mo.t jmponw.c o(hls c:!.lcet.

"He c:'lftd c:IOMl()Ud°y :!.bout die eise.. l duu't tbi.11k lint there \,� :i C:&K tli.u I�.::.a:t:d ,:,on:: :Li.oat lhlln ll1t suiJOei,$[-uJ de· fenl'C 1 >fthc president in th e impc,1rhmenf.''

Lloyd Cudu bdb·es thu •RuA'i; d e· fe : 1g: w:is hri!lt!ln1. Jf you �re g<,ir.g to

gtndc tb:m on r.bc $kiU of nd�\'lc11cy, ] thj

nl.: Chuck and rhc whole team wouldget :.I 10 01:l 9 .9.•

In 1999 Ruff renunOO. to Wing.on &. Burling, Near the end ofhi> ljf"t, ht tookon -i project to hdp btucr t1tel1\-e; of poor wo1kcC$ throughout lhe world, ind l·m ye:1, h.e broune chait of the b oud oi the

F:tit bbor 1\s:soxi:t1ion , wl,icb i1tuJiedw·.1.)'i 10 iddrc£$ V.'Otkiitg ccodilion s ii:t f:lc10:ies :1t0u1\d the world.

At (he 1mm,>ri:i.l afm hi., dc:atb,J;lim c

Con:lid.:. flOtcd Lint 1: i11cc 1ml dc:i.1?1, du:,e!us bei:n i tri:int:ndmu itm:1e ofloss felt byRuff's co!l c.1gi,m who t=k hi.s :1dricc furgr:wtcd.

�Lon. of people h�� t:lid to me, ' 1c;in't bcl il::''C he won';: be ;:here for -advic e

:111 y111or�,' II', tnu:- !If Coving.ion :indth.rougho<Jt thi& rown,"

neth NolMt. who 100k over io r R1dl'inthe White H04lk, l11id , -J teU �oplc Lb:1tI sucettdcd Chuck u the c:011.im:! to t:ht prcsidert1. I use d ,c wti:t! J:,'C'.a.f ddilli:r• 111:ly, bcc:m.v.: ,:o or.c mu.Id ?'C'p!:ice ' Ch.uck.

") li.t\-a 1l:<iug!i1 t !w l \,-ould l ive to,;i:cbow miiy im:pl:a«l.lble Ch\1ck w u , In the

las1 rwo rnoru:hi.of fn}' job, 1 realiltd howoften 1 tlt0usJ11 to ffi)')clf. 'Lct'i die-:k itaut wi 1h Cliu ek ,' btc:lu>c I h:id ta c:11thm��lf c:och timt I h:i.d th� t 1.h(lught. imist 1he aiming h:!1$-Sll.r.m..:c of k1�owh1i;h e WJ.s ther e - � Ch\lck WJ.S s'lldi a rod<:

011 No�'Citlbtt 19, 2000, w)Uk he w,uer-s3t1:d 01\ behill' ofV!ce Prc�ide,u Co,tin the Flori&, n-.oount CMt, Ruff :iuftCr ed:a l1�rr :11111.d: 1h:1t (oo\. bi s l i.fe, r-to:: kfr behind bis wife Suro.n Willis Rwf.d:1.• Jgb·Im C.Uin Ruff :1.nd Cbrislit1� Wagner .:i.ml bt-s mother M:u-g;m:t Cars.on ..