(Testimony of Jack L. Ruby)
Mr. Herndon.
We can proceed and move pretty fast as soon as Mr. Specter comes back. Just sit and relax. Would you like me to take any of these things off?
Mr. Ruby.
No, no.
Mr. Herndon.
Are you comfortable?
Mr. Ruby.
You're not going to ask me any more questions? Do you want to go through that stuff there?
Mr. Herndon.
I think I had better wait for Mr. Specter to be here. I don't want to proceed without him. Can I get you a drink of water?
Mr. Ruby.
No. Can we talk about certain things?
Mr. Herndon.
I suggest you wait until Mr. Specter returns.
Mr. Ruby.
Is there anything on your mind, Bill, off the record?
Mr. Alexander.
I think with that Cuban thing cleared up and with an opportunity to answer a question on that----
Mr. Ruby.
How about the underworld?
Mr. Alexander.
Well, he's going to ask you that, if he hasn't already.
Mr. Ruby.
There were a lot of phone calls, as you recall. I'm sure you know that and there should be a specific way to ask me "What was the purpose of all those calls?"
Mr. Alexander.
Well, you see, that wouldn't record on the machine. The question would have to be, "Did any telephone calls have any connection with the shooting of Oswald?"
Mr. Ruby.
Yes, but still, when you have so many calls, you still want to know why you called people.
Mr. Alexander.
Well, all your telephone calls were either business or personal, weren't they?
Mr. Ruby.
That's right, and the other question you asked about Oswald--you know?
Mr. Alexander.
"Did any of these calls have any connection with the shooting of Oswald?"
Mr. Ruby.
No. How about my trip to Havana?
Mr. Alexander.
Has that been asked yet?
Mr. Herndon.
That hasn't been asked.
Mr. Alexander.
"Did your trip to Havana have any connection with the shooting of Oswald, however remote?"
Mr. Ruby.
Have I ever had any business dealings--I want them to know my relationship.
Mr. Alexander.
"Have you ever had any political or business connection with Castro or Cuba?"
Mr. Ruby.
That's a good question. Or, why did I make that trip to Havana?
Mr. Alexander.
"Was your trip to Havana personal or business?" I think that's overlapping that Cuban deal.
Mr. Ruby.
Yes, but here's the thing. When people ask me---they say, "Jack, you went to Havana, Cuba" and I say, "I went there for a vacation." They say, How long did you stay?" When I say, "8 days,"--you somehow have got to answer specifically that it was a vacation, because a person can be very evasive and say he went for a vacation but yet had other dealings there.
Mr. Alexander.
"Was your trip to Havana purely for vacation and pleasure?"
Mr. Ruby.
That's right.
Mr. Alexander.
Jack, my memory is just vague you've never been to Mexico?
Mr. Ruby.
I never have been to Mexico, but Bill, you know a lot of questions to ask me, I'm sure you know, that I'd like to get cleared up.
Mr. Alexander.
Well, you never have been interested in politics, as far as I know?
Mr. Ruby.
What I was doing down at that News Building--what was I doing down there Friday--I want that question asked.
(At this point Mr. Specter returned to the room.)
Mr. Tonahill.
That's kind of a belabored question, Jack?
Mr. Ruby.
Joe, you don't believe that.
COURT REPORTER. I want to be sure I heard Mr. Ruby's answer to Mr. Alexander's question a little while ago?
Mr. Ruby.
You want to hear that again?
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