The Conflicting motivations of Jack Ruby

McAdams criticism is warranted and some of his ideas are sound and reasonable. However, instead of just attacking faulty ideas, he often resorts to personal insults. For examples, see his "Wacky at Wechtfest" series of online posts. In his attempt to defend the official story, McAdams has overlooked relevant details and evidence.

 1. "Conspiracists can't resist assigning a sinister role to Jack Ruby." (John McAdams)

Some assign this role based on speculation, while some also base their ideas on secondary sources. Yet Jack Ruby was not a mere "volatile vigilante". The Warren Commission found Jack Ruby was acquainted with more than 25 to 50 Dallas Policemen. They noted Ruby possessed far-reaching relationships among the DPD, more so than a regular citizen did. This may explain how Ruby arrived just before the transfer was complete and entered the garage to murder Oswald with ease.

2. "Obviously, to make Ruby a plotter, conspiracists have to impeach this. Further, this motive implies that Ruby was a humane man — although badly misguided — and conspiracists want to portray him as a brutal Mafia type." (John McAdams)

As for Ruby's links to the Mafia, the House Select Committee on Assassinations subsequently noted something. Days before Oswald's murder, Ruby began to have visitations and receive phone calls from his prior Mafia associates. People he had not spoken to in years, including associates of Carlos Marcello and Jimmy Hoffa.[ii] Ruby previously was acquainted in Chicago with David Yaras and Lenny Patrick, each was a Mafia assassin. Both were notorious and associated with Sam Giancana. [iii] 

3. "Further, numerous other witnesses confirm that Ruby was telling his "I did it for Jackie" story within minutes of his arrest." (John McAdams)

 I have no doubt Jack Ruby repeated many various stories over the years. Whether it was ten minutes or ten years subsequent, Ruby's credibility is suspect. Many often ignore that Lee Harvey Oswald repeatedly insisted shortly after his arrest that he was innocent. Why is Jack Ruby's claim of compassion more believable? Why do some afford a proven murderer with dubious connections such credibility? Unlike Oswald, witnesses observed Ruby assassinate his victim. Jack Ruby also received a trial and the benefit of defense counsel. Both men in my view are connected to a possible conspiracy. Neither person's claims, nor those repeating them, can solely be the basis for determining the facts.

4. "Thus Ruby was almost certainly sincere when he claimed to have done it for Jackie. (John McAdams)

There are problems with this statement. Having never spent extended time with Jack Ruby, how can one adequately judge his sincerity? We can speculate on his sincerity but not reasonably achieve near certainty. Some official evidence states other motivations feasibly guided Jack Ruby.

5. "That was not exactly the reason for the murder, but it was indeed one of the reasons that weighed on Ruby's befuddled brain." (John McAdams)


Despite McAdams believing Ruby was befuddled, or the claims of Jack Ruby's attorney, Ruby was no emotional fool. Ruby previously took part in a Dallas Police station press conference. Ruby corrected Press Secretary Henry Wade's misstatement about the name of pro-Cuba group Oswald belonged to. [iv]  
This offers Ruby having previous facts about Oswald and possible premeditation. He was possibly checking for security lapses and planning the future murder. Why did he not shoot Oswald when they moved him around the police station? If he was the confused emotional vigilante, why did he wait for days?

Ruby possessed connections to both the Mafia and Dallas Police based on evidence. Speculating about his sincerity is not a sufficient proof of McAdams' contentions. Yet to claim that misguided compassion largely motivated Ruby is inaccurate. It remains impossible to divine every motivation of Jack Ruby's actions. Yet we do know some things.The House Select Committee on Assassinations states officials did not fully investigate Ruby's connections. They affirm "...the FBI's investigation into a conspiracy was deficient in the areas that the committee decided most worthy of suspicion —organized crime, pro- and anti-Castro Cubans, and the possible associations of individuals from these areas with Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby." [v] Thus, not conspiracists, but the legal record assigns a feasibly sinister role to Jack Ruby.  

Sincerely,                                   

C. A. A. Savastano

Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Washington, DC (Report of the President’s Commission on the Assassination of JFK, The Warren Commission)appendix 16: A Biography of Jack Ruby, Underworld Ties, pp. 800,801.

[ii] Hearings of the Select Committee on Assassinations, Volume IX, Section V, Possible Associations between Jack Ruby and Organized Crime, Part D, prepared by Howard Shapiro research attorney and Michael Ewing staff researcher pp. 188-96. 

[iii] Report of the House Select Committee on Assassination, Section I. Part. A, subsection 4, The Committee believes..., p. 150.

[iv] Hearings of the President;s Commission, Volume 5, Testimony of Jack Ruby, p.189

[v] Report of the House Select Committee on Assassinations, Section I, Part. D, subsection 3, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, p. 242.

 

It would be difficult for the FBI to investigate organized crime, as Hoover never believed such a thing existed.

Ruby quite likely had help in entering the basement from someone in the DPD.It is also possible that Oswald's transfer was delayed to give Ruby time to get into position.

Ruby admitted that his lawyer, Tom Howard, gave him the Jackie Kennedy alibi.

Part of letter written by Ruby while he was in jail.

A letter from a Ruby admirer.

Today, there is no doubt that Ruby had help getting into the Dallas Police basement.

And he did not come down the Main street ramp.

I don't see how anyone can deny that with all the evidence  we have  today.

Even Burt Griffin felt that Dean was lying.  And he was.