TX Governor John Connally - Typed Letter Signed - Considers Pardoning Jack Ruby
Item History & Price
JOHN CONNALLY. John Connally (1917-1993) was an American politician who served as the Governor of Texas, Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy, and Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard Nixon. On November 22, 1963, Governor Connally was seriously injured while riding in the seat in front of Kennedy when the President was assassinated. He later testified on the events of that tragic day to the Warren Commission.
HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT TYPED LET...TER SIGNED BY TEXAS GOVERNOR JOHN CONNALLY CONSIDERS PARDONING JACK RUBY FOR HIS KILLING OF KENNEDY ASSASSIN LEE HARVEY OSWALD
Historically important typed letter signed by John Connally as Governor on March 23, 1964 in Austin, TX considering the commuting of a death sentence or pardoning of Jack Ruby only four months after President Kennedy’s assassination and nine days after Ruby’s conviction. On March 14, 1964, Ruby was convicted of murder and sentenced to death for his killing of Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. The letter was sent to Mr. J. Elias of Sacramento, CA, contains one page on Executive Department letterhead, measures 11” by 8.5”, and in near fine condition.
“I WAS MOST INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMENTS CONCERNING THE TRIAL OF JACK RUBY IN DALLAS...OUR LAWS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN COMMUTE A SENTENCE FROM DEATH TO LIFE, OR GRANT A PARDON OR GRANT SOME OTHER TYPES OF CLEMENCY ONLY IF THAT CLEMENCY IS FIRST RECOMMENDED TO HIM BY THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES...IF THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES RECOMMENDS THAT I GRANT ANY TYPE OF CLEMENCY IN THIS CASE, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL GIVE IT THE MOST CAREFUL STUDIED CONSIDERATION.”
The letter reads in part: “I was most interested in your comments concerning the trial of Jack Ruby in Dallas. Under the laws of this State--as in other states--all persons convicted of a crime have the right to appeal if they feel any error was committed in the trial. I understand such an appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is planned. If a defendant is dissatisfied with the decision of that Court, he is entitled to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. After a conviction has become final, any appeal for clemency must first be made to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Our laws specifically provide that the Governor can commute a sentence from death to life, or grant a pardon or grant some other type of clemency only if that clemency is first recommended to him by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. After the conviction is final, that Board will grant a hearing to give the defendant an opportunity to present whatever evidence or information he has to support his request for clemency. If the Board of Pardons and Paroles recommends that I grant any type of clemency in this case, I can assure you that I will give it the most careful studied consideration.”
HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT TYPED LET...TER SIGNED BY TEXAS GOVERNOR JOHN CONNALLY CONSIDERS PARDONING JACK RUBY FOR HIS KILLING OF KENNEDY ASSASSIN LEE HARVEY OSWALD
Historically important typed letter signed by John Connally as Governor on March 23, 1964 in Austin, TX considering the commuting of a death sentence or pardoning of Jack Ruby only four months after President Kennedy’s assassination and nine days after Ruby’s conviction. On March 14, 1964, Ruby was convicted of murder and sentenced to death for his killing of Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. The letter was sent to Mr. J. Elias of Sacramento, CA, contains one page on Executive Department letterhead, measures 11” by 8.5”, and in near fine condition.
“I WAS MOST INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMENTS CONCERNING THE TRIAL OF JACK RUBY IN DALLAS...OUR LAWS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN COMMUTE A SENTENCE FROM DEATH TO LIFE, OR GRANT A PARDON OR GRANT SOME OTHER TYPES OF CLEMENCY ONLY IF THAT CLEMENCY IS FIRST RECOMMENDED TO HIM BY THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES...IF THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES RECOMMENDS THAT I GRANT ANY TYPE OF CLEMENCY IN THIS CASE, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL GIVE IT THE MOST CAREFUL STUDIED CONSIDERATION.”
The letter reads in part: “I was most interested in your comments concerning the trial of Jack Ruby in Dallas. Under the laws of this State--as in other states--all persons convicted of a crime have the right to appeal if they feel any error was committed in the trial. I understand such an appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is planned. If a defendant is dissatisfied with the decision of that Court, he is entitled to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. After a conviction has become final, any appeal for clemency must first be made to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Our laws specifically provide that the Governor can commute a sentence from death to life, or grant a pardon or grant some other type of clemency only if that clemency is first recommended to him by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. After the conviction is final, that Board will grant a hearing to give the defendant an opportunity to present whatever evidence or information he has to support his request for clemency. If the Board of Pardons and Paroles recommends that I grant any type of clemency in this case, I can assure you that I will give it the most careful studied consideration.”
