Ruby’s Early Political Activities and Views on Kennedy
Ruby’s early politically adjacent activities included participating in poolhall associate-led attacks on German-American Bund meetings in Chicago, registering a 1942 copyright for an unpromoted “Remember Pearl Harbor” placard, and attempting to sell Franklin D. Roosevelt busts. His synagogue rabbi believed he was too unsophisticated to hold meaningful political views. The overwhelming majority of witnesses reported Ruby held considerable respect for President Kennedy prior to the assassination, with no reports of hostility toward him.
No Evidence of Ruby’s Communist Party Ties
There is no reliable evidence Ruby was ever associated with communist or radical causes. His Polish-born parents maintained no ties to European relatives after emigrating to the U.S. in the early 1900s, Ruby denied communist connections, and FBI nationwide files contained no records of subversive activity by Ruby prior to the Oswald shooting. A review of all 1963 subversive activity reports from the Dallas-Fort Worth FBI office found no entries related to Ruby or his known acquaintances.
Investigation of Muncie Communist Activity Allegation
The Commission investigated an allegation that Ruby was involved in Communist Party activities in Muncie, Indiana between 1943 and 1947, based on a former resident’s claim that a man resembling Ruby (known as Jack Rubenstein) visited the area and associated with suspected Communists. The claim was unsupported: military records confirm Ruby was on active duty in the South during the alleged first two visits, there is no evidence Ruby owned or managed a Chicago nightclub as the witness claimed, the alleged list of communists including Rubenstein was never located, all named associates denied knowing Ruby or participating in communist activities, and the witness never reported the allegation to authorities prior to testifying. The Commission found no basis to accept the witness’s testimony.
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