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“TRIBUTE TO CHARLES F.C. RUFF--AN OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC SERVANT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1819-E1820 on Sept. 9, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO CHARLES F.C. RUFF--AN OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC
SERVANT
______
HON. TOM LANTOS
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 8, 1999
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Charles F.C. Ruff, who left his position as White House Counsel earlier this summer. His exemplary record merits the commendation and thanks of all Americans who admire his commitment to justice and public service.
While most Americans recognize Charles Ruff from his key role in the Senate impeachment trial earlier this year, his brilliant career in public service began over three decades ago. A graduate of Swarthmore College and Columbia University Law School, Ruff accepted a position with the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section of the Justice Department in 1967. His commitment to representing the public interest was complemented by his solid legal skills, and during the 1970's Ruff rapidly became one of the most highly-regarded and influential attorneys in Washington. As the Special Prosecutor for the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, he effectively tried and convicted those members of President Nixon's administration who broke our nation's laws and violated the public trust.
In recognition of his numerous achievements, President Jimmy Carter appointed Charles Ruff to a senior position in the Department of Justice and later appointed him to the position of United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. In this latter post, Ruff supervised cases against two Members of Congress in the Abscam bribery case, as well as the government's prosecution of John W. Hinckley, Jr., the attempted assassin of President Ronald Reagan.
Charles Ruff turned to the private practice of law in 1982 and achieved extraordinary professional success as a partner with the Washington, D.C., law firm of Covington & Burling. Entering the private sector, however, not erode his desire to utilize his talents for the public good. In 1995 Ruff left private legal practice to accept a position at a far more modest annual salary, as Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia. His two years in this post earned him the admiration of his peers, as well as the notice of another attorney, who happened to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
In early 1997, Charles Ruff accepted President Bill Clinton's invitation to serve as White House Counsel. His duties during the past two and a half years have proven as diverse as they have been complex, ranging form policing White House ethics to providing the President with sound advice on critical constitutional issues. Mr. Ruff has handled these responsibilities with unequaled skill, impressing colleagues and White House observes with this attention to duty and his unshakeable integrity.
Earlier this year, Ruff led the President's successful defense against impeachment charges in the United States Senate. An island of cool-headed statesmanship in the midst of political charges and countercharges, Ruff received plaudits from allies and opponents alike for his well reasoned and respectful arguments. As the Washington Post
(June 10, 1999) noted after the trail: ``Ruff was widely respected by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress as a lawyer who doggedly defended his client but didn't engage in personal attacks or media ploys.''
When he appointed Charles Ruff to the position of White House Counsel, President Clinton explained his choice in very precise terms.
``The job of Counsel to the President requires an individual with a rare combination of intelligence, judgement, knowledge, experience, stature and legal skill. That is a perfect description of Charles Ruff.''
Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more. I invite my colleagues to join me in commending Charles Ruff for his outstanding contributions to our nation and to the American people.
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