Charles Ruff
Charles Ruff
#### A Life of Service to Justice
Full Name and Common Aliases
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Charles F.C. Ruff was a renowned American lawyer who served as the White House Counsel during the presidency of Bill Clinton. He is also known for his involvement in several high-profile court cases, including the impeachment trial of President Clinton.
Birth and Death Dates
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Charles Ruff was born on September 19, 1930, in Washington, D.C. He passed away on November 20, 2000, at the age of 70, due to complications from lung cancer.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Ruff was an American lawyer who practiced law for over four decades. Throughout his career, he worked as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and White House Counsel.
Early Life and Background
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Charles Ruff grew up in Washington, D.C., and developed a passion for the law at an early age. He attended St. Albans School before enrolling at Yale University, where he graduated with honors in 1952. Ruff then went on to study law at Columbia Law School, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1955.
Major Accomplishments
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During his career, Charles Ruff was involved in several notable cases and held various prestigious positions. Some of his most significant accomplishments include:
Serving as the Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1961 to 1969.
Working as a senior partner at the law firm Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells).
* Succeeding Charles Morgan Jr. as the White House Counsel in 1997.
Notable Works or Actions
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Charles Ruff's most notable work was his representation of President Clinton during the latter's impeachment trial in 1999. Ruff delivered a powerful closing argument, which is often credited with helping to sway public opinion in favor of the president's acquittal.
Impact and Legacy
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Throughout his career, Charles Ruff demonstrated a commitment to upholding justice and defending those who faced adversity. His work as White House Counsel during President Clinton's impeachment trial showcased his ability to navigate complex legal issues while maintaining a deep understanding of politics and public opinion.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Charles Ruff is widely remembered for his exceptional skills as a lawyer and his unwavering dedication to justice. His involvement in several high-profile cases, including the Clinton impeachment trial, has cemented his place in American legal history.
Quotes by Charles Ruff
Impeachment is not a remedy for private wrongs; it's a method of removing someone whose continued presence in office would cause grave danger to the nation.
And Mr. Ruff could have answered that question directly. He did not and his failure to do so speaks a thousand words.
The (House) managers spent much of their time last week explaining to you why, if only witnesses could be called, you would be able to resolve all of the supposed conflicts in the evidence,
But I do know this: My father was on Omaha Beach 55 years ago. If you want to know how he would feel if he were here today, he wouldn't fight -- no one fought for one side of this case or the other. He fought as all those did for our country and our Constitution. And as long as each of us -- manager, president's counsel, senator -- does his or her constitutional duty, those who fought for their country will be proud,
Can you imagine what that little conversation is going to look like, held in the independent counsel's office, with the people there who have the capacity to put Ms. Lewinsky in jail? ... Can we really say that it's just normal, just OK, to have one side using the might and majesty of the independent counsel's office threatening a witness with violation of an immunity agreement if she doesn't fly across the country for this little chat? I think not.
In the face of the seemingly insurmountable hurdle of Ms. Lewinsky's repeated denials that anyone ever asked or encouraged her to lie, the managers have persisted in arguing and continue to do so that the president did somehow encourage her to lie, even if she didn't know it, ... But neither the fact on which they rely nor their hypothesis was of much help to the managers before Ms. Lewinsky's deposition, and neither, surely, has any force after her deposition.
I'm never certain how to respond when an advocate on the other side of a case calls up images of patriots over the centuries who have sacrificed themselves to preserve our democracy,
The attorney-client privilege is the bedrock principle of our legal system, ... The confidential nature of the attorney-client relationship is no less important in government than in every other context where it exists.