Abe Ruef

Abraham Ruef
Political boss Abe Ruef
Born	(1864-09-02)September 2, 1864 San Francisco, California, United States
Died	February 29, 1936(1936-02-29) (aged 71) San Francisco, California, United States
Criminal charge	Bribery
Criminal penalty	14 years

Abraham Ruef (September 2, 1864 San Francisco, California – February 29, 1936 San Francisco), known as Abe Ruef, was an American lawyer and politician. He gained notoriety as the corrupt political boss behind the administration of Mayor Eugene Schmitz of San Francisco during the period before and after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Born Abraham Rueff, his parents were from a French-Jewish background. Ruef was a very bright student and when barely fourteen, he began studying at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in classical studies. While attending the university, he developed an interest in fighting the rampant corruption that was endemic to local and national politics at the time. With some fellow students he formed the "Municipal Reform League." He corresponded with like-minded individuals across the nation, including a young New Yorker named Theodore Roosevelt. At 18, Ruef graduated with the highest honors, then proceeded to enroll at the Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. He graduated from Hastings less than three years later and was accepted to the California State Bar when he was 21, the minimum age of admittance.

California was a center of corruption at the time, influenced by the Southern Pacific Railroad which controlled both political parties in the state. They and other well-funded interest groups and individuals used their economic power and influence to form trusts and monopolies that guaranteed them power. Many of these wealthy and powerful people lived in San Francisco, and when necessary could reinforce their hold on power through corrupt politicians and city bosses.

Although Ruef was for a long time a Republican, he wanted more power and in 1901 was the driving force behind the foundation of the new Union Labor Party. Using his position there, he maneuvered himself into a position of power.