Description:

John F. Kennedy
Deerfield Beach, FL, March 3, 1998
Earl Ruby in Response to JFK Assassination: "Evelyn Lincoln is wrong, there was not a conspiracy."
AES
Autograph Endorsement Signed, "Earl Ruby", at bottom right of a Typed Letter Signed, "Richard Duncan", 1p, 8.5" x 11", Roanoke, Virginia, February 24, 1998. Flattened mailing folds. Very light edge toning. In fine condition. Includes the original transmittal envelope stamped with Ruby's return address and postmarked West Palm Beach, Florida, March 3, 1998. Ex-Estate of Ronald Hoskins, assassinologist.

On October 7, 1994, President John F. Kennedy's personal secretary Evelyn Lincoln wrote to Richard Duncan, a teacher at Northside Middle School in Roanoke, Virginia: "As far as the assassination is concerned it is my belief that there was a conspiracy because there were those that disliked him and felt the only way to get rid of him was to assassinate him. These five conspirators, in my opinion, were Lyndon B. Johnson, J. Edgar Hoover, the Mafia, the CIA, and the Cubans in Florida."

In 1997, though Duncan had retired from his teaching position at the school, he continued to work with students part time. Still keenly interested in the assassination, Duncan sent letters to several influential people whom he thought might have an opinion on Evelyn Lincoln's conspiracy theories.

The present letter is the original signed copy that Richard Duncan sent to Earl Ruby on February 24, 1998. In part: "I know this is an imposition upon you but we would greatly appreciate any response you may be able to give. Your unique role in history will certainly attract the attention and interest of students..." Duncan adds a postscript at bottom: "I saw this address for you in an ad for Jack Ruby checks. Would you please tell me how I might purchase one?"

In response, Ruby adds several handwritten notations to Duncan's letter, in full: "I tried to call you Tuesday March 3rd, but that number is not working. Send me your correct phone number and I'll call you. / Evelyn Lincoln is wrong, there was not a conspiracy." And in response to Duncan's postscript: "The checks cost $250 each. Earl Ruby".

Earl R. Ruby (1915-2006) was the younger brother of Jack L. Ruby (1911-1967), the nightclub owner who murdered Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963, two days after Oswald was accused of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In 1964, the Warren Commission concluded that Jack Ruby acted alone in killing Oswald and that he shot Oswald in retaliation for the Kennedy assassination. The commission's findings are challenged by various critics who hypothesize that Jack Ruby was part of a conspiracy surrounding the Kennedy assassination.

On December 16, 1966, Earl Ruby, accompanied by one of his brother's lawyers, smuggled a tape recorder hidden in a briefcase into Jack's room to record an interview about his murder of Oswald. Ruby maintained that he entered the basement by coming down the ramp, had killed Oswald out of grief over the assassination, and denied knowing Oswald prior. According to an unnamed source, Ruby made a final statement from his hospital bed on December 19 that he had acted alone. "There is nothing to hide," Ruby said, "there was no one else."

Richard L. Duncan (1938-2013) was born in Virginia and graduated from Roanoke College in 1960. In 1958, he married Shirley Campbell, and they had three children. Duncan received a master's degree in education from Hollins University in 1972. He taught in Roanoke County schools for thirty-six years, mostly at Northside Middle School, until his retirement in 1996. In 1988, he was honored as the Social Studies Teacher of the Year for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Evelyn Norton Lincoln (1909-1995) was born in Nebraska. In 1930, she married federal worker Harold W. Lincoln, whom she had met at George Washington University. In 1953, she became personal secretary to newly elected Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Lincoln remained close to Kennedy until his death. In 1965, she published "My Twelve Years with John F. Kennedy", and in 1968, she wrote a book, "Kennedy and Johnson", that suggested that Kennedy planned to replace Johnson as his running mate in 1964. She implicated Johnson, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, the CIA, the mafia, and Cuban refugees in a vast conspiracy to assassinate Kennedy. According to the National Archives, Lincoln gave away or sold many Kennedy documents and artifacts with which she had been entrusted.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: AES

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September 18, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
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