Mr. Hubert. Are you aware from any source, including Ruby, whether he took more than one trip to Cuba?
Mr. Kaufman. If he took more than one trip, I am not aware of it. Actually, I couldn’t even swear he took this one, except he told me he was going and I assumed he went, but he sent me no postcards, I got no souvenirs or anything that would actually put me in a position where I could tell you definitely he was in Cuba.
Mr. Hubert. Could you tell us why he would inform you that he was going to Cuba?
Mr. Kaufman. I think Jack liked me. I think we discussed a lot of things that were not lawyer-client conversation. I think that over the period of years we discussed many subjects from physical education—taking exercises, to his nightclub business, the changeover from one type of operation to another, and these matters in my opinion don’t relate to law, Mr. Hubert.
Mr. Hubert. I was just wondering why he told you and I think you’ve given me the answer.
Mr. Kaufman. All right, continuing with paragraph (3)—the report is correct that I did not know and do not know, and never did know Lee Harvey Oswald. I have never heard Oswald’s name mentioned by Ruby and have no knowledge or information that Ruby ever knew Oswald.
This portion that “Kaufman stated he heard over TV Ruby had asked for three attorneys”—this is correct. My first acquaintance with the case, that my name was attached to the case was when Judge Pierce McBride was interviewed after talking with Ruby and he indicated that Ruby had asked for Fred Brunner, Tom Howard, and Stanley Kaufman, and at times I feel that knowing Jack like I did know him that the only reason he even did this is probably he thought he would offend me by not mentioning my name, but if you knew Jack, you would know he’s very sensitive and he’s very, very thoughtful, and I at times feel that that was his reason for mentioning my name.
Although, I must confess that if I could practice criminal law I wouldn’t hesitate to represent Jack, that I do feel that he respected my legal ability, and I’m not flattering myself or not trying to be modest, but I do feel that if I could have helped him, and I want the record certainly to reflect this, that had I felt capable, I certainly would not have hesitated to have been his lawyer.
Mr. Hubert. All right.
Mr. Kaufman. About the bank-account business—this is correct. I don’t recall Jack having any bank accounts. I didn’t make any big money off of Jack over the period of years. I did represent some ventures that might have been referred to me through him. I remember one of the girls that worked for him was involved in an automobile collision and he was kind enough to—when she needed an attorney—to recommend me, and I might have made money in that direction from different people, but as far as Jack himself, he just didn’t have, Mr. Hubert, that kind of legal business.