Abe Ruef
Encyclopedia
Abraham Rueff known as Abe Ruef, was an American lawyer and politician. He gained notoriety as the political boss
behind the administration of Mayor Eugene Schmitz
of San Francisco, in the period of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
.
-Jewish family and studied at the University of California, Berkeley
, majoring in the classical studies. At the age of eighteen, he graduated with the highest honors, then enrolled at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco.
for a long time, in 1901 he was the driving force behind the foundation of the new Union Labor Party.
Ruef then chose violin player and conductor Eugene Schmitz
to front for the party. Schmitz was elected Mayor, serving from 1902 to 1907. During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, "nearly $750,000 of his real estate holdings were destroyed." Originally not called to be a member of the Committee of Fifty
, he appeared on Thursday afternoon at Franklin Hall, then the Committee's headquarters, and invited himself. Since "there wasn't a desk in the hall for Ruef, he accepted an offer to share a corner of the Mayor's desk." He became chairman of the Subcommittee on Relocating the Chinese. "Ruef told the dozen men seated around him that it "is taken for granted from the first that the Chinese must not be allowed to return to the desirable area that Chinatown occupied." The subcommittee debated the question without arriving at a consensus as to where relocate them, and in the meanwhile the Chinese returned to Chinatown.
of the supervisors."
After this, an agreement was reached between Ruef and the prosecution that Ruef confess and get immunity from most of the charges. On May 15, 1907, Ruef pleaded "guilty" and the next day began to confess before a grand jury, incriminating Schmitz. This led to Schmitz's conviction and loss of the Mayor's office on June 13, 1907. Ruef's trial finally ended on December 10, 1908, with a verdict of "guilty" and the maximum sentence for bribery - 14 years in San Quentin
." He spent a year at the county jail awaiting his appeal. In December 1909, he was released on bond of $600,000."
In November 1910, his conviction and sentence were upheld. On March 1, 1911, he entered San Quentin Penitentiary
. In 1912, Ruef was brought as a witness to the new trial of ex-Mayor Schmitz, but refused to testify. Later in 1912, Ruef wrote his memoirs which were published in the San Francisco Bulletin in installments almost daily over months, finishing at the point where the graft
investigation began. On August 23, 1915, having served a little more than four and a half of his fourteen-year sentence, he was released. He was not allowed to return to the bar. "Before he went to prison he had been worth over a million dollars, when he died he was bankrupt."
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
behind the administration of Mayor Eugene Schmitz
Eugene Schmitz
Eugene Edward Schmitz was an American politician and the 26th mayor of San Francisco, who became notorious for his conviction by a jury on charges of corruption.-Life and career:...
of San Francisco, in the period of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
.
Origins
He came from a FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-Jewish family and studied at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, majoring in the classical studies. At the age of eighteen, he graduated with the highest honors, then enrolled at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco.
Education and career
He was accepted to the California bar less than three years later, immediately after reaching the then minimum age of admittance: twenty-one. Although a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
for a long time, in 1901 he was the driving force behind the foundation of the new Union Labor Party.
Ruef then chose violin player and conductor Eugene Schmitz
Eugene Schmitz
Eugene Edward Schmitz was an American politician and the 26th mayor of San Francisco, who became notorious for his conviction by a jury on charges of corruption.-Life and career:...
to front for the party. Schmitz was elected Mayor, serving from 1902 to 1907. During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, "nearly $750,000 of his real estate holdings were destroyed." Originally not called to be a member of the Committee of Fifty
Committee of Fifty (1906)
This Committee of Fifty, sometimes referred to as Committee of Safety, Citizens' Committee of Fifty or Relief and Restoration Committee of Law and Order, was called into existence by Mayor Eugene Schmitz during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake...
, he appeared on Thursday afternoon at Franklin Hall, then the Committee's headquarters, and invited himself. Since "there wasn't a desk in the hall for Ruef, he accepted an offer to share a corner of the Mayor's desk." He became chairman of the Subcommittee on Relocating the Chinese. "Ruef told the dozen men seated around him that it "is taken for granted from the first that the Chinese must not be allowed to return to the desirable area that Chinatown occupied." The subcommittee debated the question without arriving at a consensus as to where relocate them, and in the meanwhile the Chinese returned to Chinatown.
Indictment and conviction
On December 6, 1906, Ruef and Schmitz were arraigned in court. "As the indictments were read out by the clerk, Ruef made clear his disdain for the proceedings by standing with his back to the judge." During the period of his trial, Ruef occupied offices in The Columbus Tower, in North Beach. In February 1907 Ruef pleaded "not guilty". On March 18, 1907, the Supervisors confessed before a grand jury to "receiving money from Ruef in connection with the Home Telephone, overhead trolley, prize fight monopoly, and gas rates deals. In exchange, "they were promised complete immunity and would not be forced to resign their offices. The grand jury then returned 65 indictments against Ruef for briberyBribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
of the supervisors."
After this, an agreement was reached between Ruef and the prosecution that Ruef confess and get immunity from most of the charges. On May 15, 1907, Ruef pleaded "guilty" and the next day began to confess before a grand jury, incriminating Schmitz. This led to Schmitz's conviction and loss of the Mayor's office on June 13, 1907. Ruef's trial finally ended on December 10, 1908, with a verdict of "guilty" and the maximum sentence for bribery - 14 years in San Quentin
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
." He spent a year at the county jail awaiting his appeal. In December 1909, he was released on bond of $600,000."
In November 1910, his conviction and sentence were upheld. On March 1, 1911, he entered San Quentin Penitentiary
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
. In 1912, Ruef was brought as a witness to the new trial of ex-Mayor Schmitz, but refused to testify. Later in 1912, Ruef wrote his memoirs which were published in the San Francisco Bulletin in installments almost daily over months, finishing at the point where the graft
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
investigation began. On August 23, 1915, having served a little more than four and a half of his fourteen-year sentence, he was released. He was not allowed to return to the bar. "Before he went to prison he had been worth over a million dollars, when he died he was bankrupt."