Charles Ruff
Chuck Ruff | |
|---|---|
Special Prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice | |
| In office October 17, 1975 – June 1977 | |
| Appointed by | Edward H. Levi |
| Preceded by | Henry S. Ruth Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1, 1939 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | November 19, 2000 (aged 61) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Swarthmore College (BA) Columbia University (JD) |
Charles Frederick Carson Ruff (August 1, 1939 – November 19, 2000) was a prominent American lawyer based in Washington, D.C., and was best known as the White House Counsel who defended President Bill Clinton during his impeachment trial in 1999.
Early life and education
Charles Frederick Carson Ruff was born on August 1, 1939, in
Ruff received his B.A. degree from Swarthmore College in 1960 and his J.D. degree from Columbia Law School in 1963.[1][3] Although Ruff ranked twelfth in a class of 235 at Columbia,[3] he later stated that he "absolutely detested law school."[2]
After graduating from law school, Ruff accepted a Ford Foundation fellowship to teach law in Africa.[1] In 1964, while in Liberia, Ruff was sickened with flulike symptoms (a specific diagnosis was never made) and almost died; he became paralyzed in the legs and used a wheelchair for the rest of his life.[1][2][3] Ruff preferred not to discuss his disability, saying only that "law is a sedentary profession."[1][3]
Career
Ruff was a research associate at
Ruff briefly returned to teaching, spending the 1972–73 academic year at the newly established
Ruff was chief of the Organized Crime and Labor Management Section of the
In 1978, Ruff became deputy inspector general of the
In 1979, President
In 1982, Ruff joined the Washington law firm of
From 1989 and 1990, Ruff served a term as president of the District of Columbia Bar.[2]
In 1991, Ruff was part of the legal team representing
Ruff was considered by the
Ruff left Covington & Burling in August 1995 to accept an appointment by Mayor Marion Barry to the post of Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia, overseeing 200 city lawyers.[2][3] Ruff was credited with restoring the reputation of the office, which had faced criticism after having been beset with a series of problems.[1][3] Ruff's decision to leave private practice to lead the Corporation Counsel's Office meant an 80% pay cut; Ruff's colleague Lanny A. Breuer stated that Ruff had taken the position because it was the right thing to do.[1]
In February 1997, Ruff left the Corporation Counsel's Office to become
In the summer of 1999, Ruff rejoined Covington & Burling, where he remained for the rest of his life; at the time of his death, Ruff was a senior partner.[1][3]
Death
Ruff died on November 19, 2000, at the
On his death, his New York Times obituary described him as "one of Washington's most influential if least self-important lawyers."[1]
Honors
On January 8, 2001, Ruff was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Clinton.[6]
References
- ^ , New York Times (November 21, 2000).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Daniel Becker, Charles F. C. Ruff: A Legend in the Law, Washington Lawyer (April 2001).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Adam Bernstein, Lawyer Charles F.C. Ruff Dies, Washington Post (November 21, 2000).
- ^ Defense Who's Who, Washington Post (January 19, 1999).
- ^ Lloyd Grove & John F. Harris, Crisis Quarterback: Gregory Craig Is Calling the Plays On Clinton's Team, Washington Post (November 19, 1998), D01.
- ^ President Clinton Announces Recipients of Presidential Citizens Medals Archived 2016-08-05 at the Wayback Machine, White House Office of the Press Secretary (January 5, 2001).
External links
- Text of Ruff's opening argument for the defense in the Clinton impeachment trial, Congressional Record (January 19, 1999)
- Appearances on C-SPAN
