Mr.Ruby. Okay.
(Reporter’s note: 8:15 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. Just relax, Mr. Ruby.
Does your arm feel all right?
Mr.Ruby. Fine—I’m all right.
Mr.Herndon. I will continue this next series of questions and it will be listed as series 9a.
(Reporter’s note: 8:17 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. We will begin again.
“Did you shoot Oswald because of a labor union influence?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.”
Mr.Herndon. “Did any long-distance telephone calls which you made before the assassination of the President have anything to do with the assassination?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.”
Mr.Herndon. “Did any of your long-distance telephone calls concern the shooting of Oswald?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.”
Mr.Herndon. “Did you shoot Oswald in order to save Mrs. Kennedy the ordeal of a trial?”
Mr.Ruby. “Yes.”
Mr.Herndon. “Did you know the Tippit that was killed?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.”
Mr.Herndon. “Did you tell the truth about relaying the message to Ray Brantley to get McWillie a few guns?”
Mr.Ruby. “Yes.”
Mr.Herndon. “Did you go to the assembly room on Friday night to get the telephone number of KLIF?”
Mr.Ruby. “Yes.”
Mr.Herndon. “Did you ever meet with Oswald and Officer Tippit at your club?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.”
Mr.Herndon. That completes that series. I will release that pressure and you can now relax.
(Reporter’s note: 8:20 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. You seem to be relaxed and feeling fine.
Mr.Specter. Are you ready, Mr. Herndon?
Mr.Herndon. Yes; that completes that series.
Mr.Specter. Mr. Tonahill and Mr. Alexander have returned to the room.
Mr.Herndon. Shall I go right into the next series?
Mr.Specter. Go right into the series. We just did series 9 and 9a, and we are now going to series 10.
Mr.Herndon. Yes; we just have a few more questions.
Mr.Ruby. That’s wonderful, except there are a few things that I think you’ve left out.
Mr.Specter. Yes, Mr. Ruby. If you have additional questions you want asked, we will do our best to cover anything additional when we finish.
Mr.Herndon. Here are the next questions which I would like to ask you, Mr. Ruby, on the next series. Again, I want to make sure that you understand each and every one of them.
“Were you at the Parkland Hospital at any time on Friday?”
Mr.Ruby. No.
Mr.Herndon. “Did you say anything at the time you shot Oswald?”
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. “Have any members of your family been physically harmed because of what you did?”
Mr.Ruby. Not up to this point; no.
Mr.Herndon. Then, the question can be answered in your mind either “Yes” or “No”?
Mr.Ruby. No.
Mr.Herndon. You can answer it?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. “Do you think members of your family are now in danger because of what you did?”
Mr.Ruby. Yes, sir.
Mr.Herndon. “Is Mr. Fowler in danger because he is defending you?”
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. “Did ‘Blackie’ Harrison speak to you just before you shot Oswald?”
Mr.Ruby. I don’t know—so, I’ll say “No.” Oh, I see what you mean.
Mr.Herndon. “Did ‘Blackie’ Harrison speak toyou”——
Mr.Ruby. No.
Mr.Herndon. “Just before you shot Oswald?”
Mr.Ruby. No.
Mr.Herndon. I realize this is based on your recollection, but if you feel you can answer it “Yes” or “No,” fine.
Mr.Ruby. The trouble is I didn’t hear any sounds of voices—then, I’ve got to say “No.”
Mr.Herndon. It’s your recollection you don’t recall Blackie Harrison speaking to you just before you shot Oswald?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Specter. Mr. Ruby, you answered the question “Yes.” Did you say something immediately before you shot Oswald?
Mr.Herndon. I was going to ask that on here and then ask him about that again.
Mr.Specter. Yes; but I would like to cover it in advance. What did you say to Oswald, if you don’t mind?
Mr.Ruby. I said, “You killed my President, you rat”—something like that. “You killed my” or “our President, you rat.”
Mr.Specter. I would like then to modify that question, Mr. Herndon. “Did you say anything to Oswald immediately before shooting him, other than, ‘You killed our President, you rat’”? If that’s not too long. I’d like that.
Mr.Herndon. Well, just let me sit down and take a good look at that question.
(At this point there was a conference between Messrs. Specter, Alexander, and Herndon out of the hearing of others in the room.)
Mr.Specter. Mr. Herndon, would you now read the question to Mr. Ruby as we have modified it after consultation.
Mr.Herndon. Mr. Ruby, the question will be this way: “Did you say anything when you shot Oswald other than that what you testified about?”
Mr.Ruby. No.
Mr.Herndon. The testifying about was pertaining to those statements that you’ve just told us here a few moments ago. Do you follow me there?
Mr.Ruby. The statement I made?
Mr.Herndon. All right, I will proceed with the series again.
Mr.Specter. Let’s proceed with the series.
May the record show that Mr. Tonahill and Mr. Alexander have left the room.
(Reporter’s note: 8:25 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. Are you ready to begin now, Mr. Ruby?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. All right, if you will uncross your legs and put your feet flat on the floor, please, Mr. Ruby, and are you comfortable?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. Will you look straight ahead during the actual asking of the questions.
For the record, this is series No. 10.
(Reporter’s note: 8:26 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. I notice during the time—all the time I ask you questions, Mr. Ruby, that you close your eyes. If that’s a way that you can concentrate, that’s perfectly all right.
Mr.Ruby. That’s why—if I were guilty of something or if I were trying to evade something, certainly closing your eyes would be less advantageous for you to cover up something. Do you follow me? In other words, closing your eyes means that I do want to tell the truth.
Mr.Herndon. That’s what I want you to do—just concentrate on the question alone and you have to make that decision whether you will answer it “Yes” or “No”.
Mr.Ruby. In other words, if I was trying to cover up anything, I wouldn’t try to get more of a vision of what you’re trying to refer me to.
Mr.Herndon. All right, if you will look straight ahead now, and sit perfectly still, we will begin, and I will let you know when we’re going to ask the first question.
Mr.Ruby. In other words, I’m trying to be more emphatic with the truth when I close my eyes—more than the truth.
Mr.Herndon. Would you put your complete left hand on that arm rest—that’s it.
(Reporter’s note: 8:27 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. The test will now begin.
“Is your name Jack Ruby?”
Mr.Ruby. “Yes.”
Mr.Herndon. “Were you at the Parkland Hospital at any time on Friday?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.”
Mr.Herndon. “Did you say anything when you shot Oswald other than what you’ve testified about?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.”
Mr.Herndon. “Have members of your family been physically harmed because of what you did?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.” May I interrupt?
Mr.Herndon. Just sit perfectly still. We will discuss the questions later, Mr. Ruby.
“Do you think members of your family are now in danger because of what you did?”
Mr. Ruby (no response).
Mr.Herndon. “Is Mr. Fowler in danger because he is defending you?”
Mr. Ruby (no response).
Mr.Herndon. “Did ‘Blackie’ Hanson speak to you just before you shot Oswald?”
Mr.Ruby. “No.”
Mr.Herndon. That will conclude that series, and just sit still a moment, Mr. Ruby, and I will let the pressure out. Now, as soon as I shut this off, we will discuss these questions.
(Reporter’s note: 8:30 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. On that series of questions, Mr. Ruby, you failed to respond or answer one or two of these questions, which I’ll give you an opportunity now to make any comment you wish to make about them.
Question No. 5, I asked, “Do you think members of your family are now in danger because of what you did?”
Mr.Ruby. Well, they’re always exposed to it, so I don’t know how to answer that.
Mr.Herndon. In other words, you felt it would be difficult for you to say either “Yes” or “No”; is that correct?
Mr.Ruby. That’s right; the same way with Fowler. I know when he’s representing me, he’s putting himself on the spot.
Mr.Wood. Neither the court reporter nor I got the last name of “Blackie”—exactly.
Mr.Herndon. I believe I said “Harrison.” That’s the way I had it in my notes, but perhaps you might have gotten the impression I said “Hanson.” You knew who I was talking about, Mr. Ruby?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. That’s the main thing that you knew exactly who I meant.
Mr.Specter. I believe you said “Harrison.”
Mr. Ruby, are there any other questions which you would like to be covered with you?
Mr.Herndon. Excuse me, Mr. Specter, I have one more question here. For my records—he did not respond to question No. 6. If you want, I can go over that and we can discuss that question without any response.
Mr.Specter. No; I’d like to discuss that. Mr. Tonahill and Mr. Alexander have already returned to the room, and I would like to discuss that if it’s all right with you here. Let the record show that we would like to cover that now.
Mr.Herndon. Mr. Ruby, on that last series, I asked a question, “Is Mr. Fowler in danger because he is defending you?” You remained silent, which is one of the instructions I gave you, if you so pleased to do. Would you at this time indicate to me why you wanted to remain silent?
Mr.Ruby. Well, No. 1, this is quite a notorious thing, and don’t forget, it’s just like I specified when Earl Warren was in danger, you know, so he is—in other words, people have a dislike for me, and Mr. Fowler is trying to defend me, and this won’t make him too popular a person—too well liked of a person, I should say.
Mr.Herndon. Then, you just simply didn’t want to come out with a “Yes” or “No” answer?
Mr.Ruby. Yes; because I wouldn’t know how to answer that.
Mr.Herndon. All right, Mr. Specter. Thank you.
Mr.Specter. Mr. Ruby, do you now have any other questions which you would like us to ask you on this polygraph examination?
Mr.Ruby. Yes; “At what time did I first think of wanting—when was the first time it ever entered my mind that I wanted to commit this act?”
Mr.Specter. You mean the shooting of Oswald?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Specter. We asked you that.
Mr.Ruby. You did—because if anything prior to that—in otherwords——
Mr.Specter. No; we asked you that very carefully a number of ways and one way was when Mr. Herndon asked you did you think of it on Friday, and you said “No”; did you think of it on Saturday morning—“No”; did you think of it on Saturday evening—“No”; on Sunday morning “Yes,”—so we’ve covered that very thoroughly.
Mr.Ruby. Have I ever received any monies—we don’t need that, do we, for subversive purposes or anything.
Mr.Specter. I think we’ve covered that whole area very carefully.
Mr.Ruby. Now, what about my being present in the News Building that morning? Here—the assassination took place across the street from there?
Mr.Specter. Mr. Ruby, I think we have covered that when we asked you if you told the truth on your testimony before the President’s Commission, because you went into that on June 7, and that isn’t nearly the central issue as the other specific questions we have asked you.
Mr.Ruby. Yes; but if I was in a conspiracy, wouldn’t it start off with that point? Oh, yes; they didn’t ask me another question: “If I loved the President so much, why wasn’t I at the parade?” Is that a very important question to ask?
Mr.Specter. We have considered those questions and that was when we reviewed the transcript of your testimony, and quite frankly, we have rejected them as being not important.
Mr.Ruby. You have? I see. Now, isn’t it strange—now, I want to tell you something that’s noticeable in this part of the country about the poll tax, and there are a lot of other reasons, maybe. I’m reluctant to buy my poll tax in time, and I don’t recall whether or not—is this all right to go in the record if I speak?
Mr.Specter. You may go on the record with any facet you think is important for the Commission to know about.
Mr.Ruby. And yet, it’s strange that perhaps I didn’t vote for PresidentKennedy, or didn’t vote at all, that I should build up such a great affection for him, when everything points against me. For instance, the parade issue I referred to. How can I answer that and still show my sincerity or my feelings and why I was carried away so emotionally to do something like that, that has put me in such serious trouble?
Mr.Alexander. Jack, there’s no way to put that on the machine other than to ask you if you told the truth in your testimony; and that’s an opinion without concrete facts.
Mr.Ruby. But I don’t remember if I got all the testimony in when Warren was here.
Mr.Specter. You testify now as to anything you want to add and we can ask you one question at the end and that will be “Have you told the truth in everything you’ve said here today?” That one question will cover everything you said, so that if any other phase comes to your mind now, let us hear about it.
Mr.Ruby. What I’m trying to bring out is this: It’s—and everyone was very much surprised—why should I be carried away so emotionally to commit the act, and yet knowing how I felt and knowing I know I’m telling the truth, how can we bring that point out that I am not sincere in why I did it?
Mr.Specter. We can bring that out with the one general question. Now, is there any other topic you would like to testify about and have us check you on your truthfulness?
Mr.Ruby. Yes—whether or not I was ever mixed up with the underworld here or involved in any crime?
Mr.Specter. You’ve been asked that specifically, and you’ve testified about that.
Mr.Ruby. Yes. You see, I’ve been in Dallas 17 years and yet suddenly I get involved in a very serious crime and I was very popular with the police department and a lot of other people, and the irony is—it took a complete reverse of that, because of various suspicions, nature, and so on.
I wonder if you follow what I’m trying to bring out? Maybe there’s something we can cover in that area.
Mr.Alexander. Jack, let’s cover it this way. “Were any of your relations with the police department improper?”
Mr.Ruby. No—you, like doing business or something or other?
Mr.Alexander. Yes?
Mr.Ruby. No—none whatsoever.
Mr.Alexander. Well, would that question cover what you had in mind?
Mr.Ruby. No.
Mr.Alexander. Tell us what you had in mind and then we’ll frame the question, because that’s an area.
Mr.Ruby. Whether or not I am of criminal background or whether I’m an honest and sincere person, because all those things came out and suspicions came out that Jack Ruby was involved in this and that and leaves a lot of suspicion as to my background and my character. That’s very vague, but that’s what I’m trying to bring out.
Mr.Alexander. How would this question be? “Are you a police character?”
Mr.Ruby. No.
Mr.Tonahill. “Are you a 100 percent patriotic American citizen?”
Mr.Alexander. “Are you a law-abiding citizen?”
Mr.Ruby. That’s better—that’s the question.
Mr.Alexander. “Are you a law-abiding patriotic citizen?”
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Tonahill. “Are you a 100 percent American patriotic citizen?”
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. That can be asked.
Mr.Ruby. That’s very good, because—shall I elaborate on this?
Mr.Specter. Yes.
Mr.Ruby. I became closely attached to our beloved President when he gave that wonderful speech when we had our problem in Cuba at that time. That was a very tremendous speech and then I followed him on television and in magazines wherever he went—to Ireland and different places.
Now, Joe asked a very good question. In other words, either you are Americanor 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 clearcut 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 nightclub 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 those3 days. This is the ironic part of it, that wouldn’t it be a tremendous hoax, or certain people would probably believe it that way, that here’s a fellow that didn’t vote for the President, closes his clubs for 3 days, made a trip to Cuba, relayed a message from a person—from Ray Brantley—look at circumstantially how guilty I am? If you want to put all these things together? Then, I happen to be down there, which is a million and one shot, that I should happen to be down there at that particular second when this man comes out of whatever it was—an elevator or whatever it was—all these things—plus the fact of the post office box and other rumors that they saw us together at the club—how can we give me the clearance that the ads I put in were authentic, my sincerity, my feeling of emotionalism were sincere; that that Sunday morning I got carried away after reading the article, a letter addressed to Caroline and then this little article that stated Mrs. Kennedy might be requested to come back and face the ordeal of the trial?
Also, if there was a conspiracy, then this little girl that called me on the phone in Fort Worth then is a part of the conspiracy. Do you follow me?
Mr.Specter. I understand you, Mr. Ruby, but you have testified about most of this on the prior occasion, such as seeing the article in the newspaper, about the letter to little Caroline and about the necessity for Mrs. Kennedy to return, and we have formulated the questions concerning the major topics which we have of concern and have supplemented those topics in the questions to you. I think in all fairness that we have gone as far as we can on any of the substantive questions, and I want you to be satisfied, and the Commission wants you to be satisfied, and that’s why I keep repeating the question—whether you have any other topic. I can see you are trying to recollect something else—so that you will have covered everything in a conclusive way.
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Specter. As soon as you are satisfied on that, I’m going to ask the other gentlemen a question, as I say, and as a matter of fact, I can do that now while you are still thinking.
I will ask Mr. Fowler if there is any other question that he would like to have asked of you at this time?
Mr.Fowler. Sir, I know of no other questions that could be asked at this time.
Mr.Specter. Mr. Tonahill, do you have any other questions you would like to have asked?
Mr.Tonahill. No, I don’t. I think it has been very, very comprehensive. From my knowledge of the background, I think if you asked Jack if he went to the Dallas Morning News that morning to attend to business and protested vigorously the ad insulting President Kennedy, if he protested because he’s a 100 percent patriotic American citizen, I think he would, tell you “Yes” and he would be telling the truth.
I think if you asked him why he went out about 4 o’clock in the morning with George Senator and Larry and took that picture of thesign——
Mr.Ruby. Don’t mention anything about that—we’re in a bad spot down here because of that.
Mr.Tonahill(continuing). Of Chief Justice Earl Warren, he would tell you that he did it because he was going to turn it over to the FBI and some attorneys, because he thought it was un-American and he did it because he’s a 100 percent patriotic American citizen, and he’s telling the truth.
Mr.Ruby. I also went over to the post office to check on the box.
Mr.Tonahill. The same thing on the box—to see there if the post office numbers on the sign and in the newspaper ad meant the same person was behind it, which would be the John Birchers and Communists both, and he wanted to do something about it because he’s a 100 percent patriotic American citizen, he would be telling the truth.
Mr.Ruby. I didn’t know about the ad—you’re talking about the ad against President Kennedy?
Mr.Tonahill. Yes.
Mr.Ruby. I didn’t refer to the John Birch—with reference to that.
Mr.Tonahill. He wanted to see if they were connected together—the same people.
Mr.Ruby. I didn’t mention the term “John Birch.” I just said, “I wonder who could have placed that ad in there?”
Mr.Tonahill. That’s all I have.
Mr.Specter. Mr. Alexander, do you have any questions to ask?
Mr.Alexander. I have no questions to ask. I think it has been most comprehensive.
Mr.Specter. Mr. Ruby, did you go to the Dallas Morning News to protest the advertisement that made derogatory statements about President Kennedy?
Mr.Ruby. No; I went there to place my ad, because my business is very—it’s very important that I’m there on the weekend, in the first place. My business is conducted on a cash basis, and you can’t place your ads unless you are there to pay for them.
Mr.Specter. You testified to that before?
Mr.Ruby. Yes; I did.
Mr.Specter. Did you make any comment about the newspaper advertisement which contained derogatory references to President Kennedy?
Mr.Ruby. We spoke about it up at the Morning News there, and I didn’t want to make anything there about it because I knew they accepted it. They accepted the ad. It would be rather embarrassing to say something to them because they were responsible. The phones were ringing off the desks with people canceling various ads and so on, but I did make—I went to the Turf Club—that’s where I got all hepped up about it—over at the Turf Lounge, and I went to the post office to find out who was it that placed that ad, you know, and how it came about.
Mr.Specter. Are you satisfied then, Mr. Ruby, if we ask you one more question on the polygraph, specifically, “Has all the information which you have testified to today been the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
Mr.Ruby. Plus the fact that I do want to get in my feeling for Americanism and how I felt, because—remember—there may be unseen persons that may not believe in my sincerity, so I want that specifically asked—how I feel about my country I live in and so on, unless it’s repeating something. Is it?
Mr.Specter. Well, we will ask it of you again so that there’s no question about. We will formulate the question, “Do you consider yourself to be a 100 percent American patriot?”
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Specter. And then we’ll ask the general question about whether every bit of information you’ve given us today has been the whole truth?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Specter. All right, will you proceed, Mr. Herndon and ask those two questions.
Mr.Ruby. One more thing—shouldn’t you ask me, or isn’t it necessary, why I suddenly was so carried away to get involved in this serious crime?
Mr.Alexander. Jack, that won’t work on the machine.
Mr.Specter. We have to ask you a “Yes” or “No” question, and we’ve already covered that by asking you the question about Mrs. Kennedy—whether you didn’t shoot Oswald to avoid having her come to trial.
Mr.Ruby. Yes; that covers that.
Mr.Specter. That covers that subject.
Mr.Ruby. In other words, I can’t answer that truthfully and have another reason for doing it; is that correct?
Mr.Specter. Correct.
Mr.Ruby. That would answer that?
Mr.Specter. Yes. We’ve asked you all thereasons——
Mr.Ruby. But you don’t ask me why I did it, though? Why I was carried away so much—you don’t ask me that.
Mr.Specter. We did ask you—we asked you “Why did you shoot Oswald?”
Mr.Ruby. But you don’t ask me why I got carried away so?
Mr.Specter. Well, it’s the same question.
Mr.Ruby. Oh, it’s the same question.
Mr.Specter. This is the same question—in the form of: “Did you do it in order to save Mrs. Kennedy the travail of a trip to Dallas?” That subject matter has been covered as comprehensively as we can through the polygraph.
Now, will you proceed, Mr. Herndon, and ask those final questions?
Mr.Herndon. I would like to proceed with, “Are you Jack Ruby?”
Mr.Specter. That’s fine—that’s your line.
Mr.Herndon. Then, I’ll ask you. “Do you consider yourself to be a 100 percent American patriot?”
Then, what was the last question you wanted asked, Mr. Specter?
Mr.Specter. “Is all of the testimony given by you today the complete truth?”
Mr.Herndon. I think I can ask those questions now.
Mr. Ruby, does this noise disturb you right now, are you conscious of it or aware of it [referring to audible conversations between other jail occupants outside this room]?
Mr.Ruby. I hear it.
Mr.Herndon. Are you all right?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. Are you tired?
Mr.Ruby. No; I’m all right.
Mr.Herndon. Are you getting a little tired?
Mr.Ruby. I’m all right.
Mr.Herndon. I’ll ask you just these last few questions. Would you once again kindly put your feet flat on the floor, and let’s put these back so you will be comfortable.
(Reporter’s note: 8:55 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. I will have to wait for the instrument to warm up just a second. This will be series No. 11.
(Mr. Herndon snapped his fingers one time.)
Mr.Herndon. Are you ready to proceed?
Mr.Ruby. Yes.
Mr.Herndon. I’ll just ask these three questions, and once again, these are more or less summation questions here, and I want you just to relax and answer them simply, “Yes” or “No.”
The series will now begin.
“Are you Jack Ruby?”
Mr.Ruby. “Yes.”
Mr.Herndon. “Do you consider yourself to be a 100 percent American patriot?”
Mr.Ruby. “Yes.”
Mr.Herndon. “Has all the testimony given by you today been the complete truth?”
Mr.Ruby. “Yes.”
Mr.Herndon. The series is over.
(Reporter’s note: 8:59 p.m.)
Mr.Herndon. I have no questions, Mr. Specter.
Mr.Specter. Thank you. That concludes the polygraph examination.
Mr.Herndon. Now, I will take all this paraphernalia off of you, Mr. Ruby.
Mr.Specter. I would like to have you sign your name about 10 times, for us, Mr. Ruby, and would you put the date on this for us too? The date is July 18, 1964.
Mr.Ruby. Let me have my glasses, Joe.
Mr.Tonahill(handed glasses to Mr. Ruby).
Mr.Specter. And now would you write the sentence at the bottom, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.”
Mr.Ruby(complied with request of Mr. Specter).
Mr.Specter. Now, would you skip down and write that again. I would like for you to write that three times in all, and you might sit down and take a chair and do so.
Mr.Ruby(complied with request of Mr. Specter).
Mr.Specter. Very good.
Mr.Ruby. What time is it?
Mr.Herndon. It’s 9 o’clock.
Mr.Specter. I have five after nine—Dallas, Tex., time.
Mr.Ruby. Joe, are you going to do what I asked you to?
Mr.Tonahill. I’m going to do my best. You know me well enough to know that I’m going to do my best.
Mr.Ruby. I know you well enough.
Mr.Herndon. You were very cooperative, Mr. Ruby.
Mr.Tonahill. Goodbye, Jack. Good to see you.
Mr.Ruby. You’re going to do what I ask you to do?
Mr.Tonahill. I’m going to do my best. I told you I would. Everything I do is for your best interest and I have worked awful hard.
Mr.Ruby. I know. You are a big man and I know how big you can be.
Mr.Tonahill. I’m going to do my best, like I said, and not let anything under the sun happen.
Mr.Ruby. You know what I’m talking about?
Mr.Tonahill. I know exactly what you’re talking about.
(Before leaving the room Mr. Ruby conferred briefly with Messrs. Tonahill and Alexander out of the hearing of others in the room, and departed with Chief Jailer Holman at 9:07 p.m.)