[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21156]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   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.

                          ____________________