1919 Anarchist Bombings

On the evening of June 2, 1919, a wave of coordinated bomb attacks struck eight American cities within roughly 90 minutes, including New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Paterson, New Jersey. The bombings were linked to followers of Luigi Galleani, a radical anarchist who advocated violent revolution to overthrow government, laws, and capitalism.

The most dramatic attack occurred in Washington, D.C., when anarchist Carlo Valdinoci attempted to bomb the home of newly appointed Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. The explosive detonated prematurely, killing Valdinoci and heavily damaging Palmer’s residence. Across the street, a young Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were reportedly shaken by the blast.

The June attacks followed an earlier campaign in April 1919, when radicals mailed more than 30 dynamite-filled package bombs to politicians, judges, business leaders, and law enforcement officials. Among the intended targets were John D. Rockefeller, government officials, and FBI field agent Rayme Weston Finch, who had previously investigated Galleanist activities. Though no intended targets were killed, one senator’s maid lost both hands when a package exploded.

The June bombs were far more powerful, containing up to 25 pounds of dynamite and metal shrapnel. Targets included judges, law enforcement officials, and public figures associated with anti-radical legislation, deportation efforts, and prosecutions of anarchists.

In Philadelphia, bombs devastated portions of the Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church rectory and severely damaged the home of jeweler Louis Jajieky. Similar attacks erupted in other cities. Despite the scale of the operation, only one victim was killed: New York City night watchman William Boehner.

Investigators discovered copies of a pink flyer titled Plain Words at several bombing sites. The leaflet openly called for violence and declared war against what the authors viewed as oppressive institutions. Authorities traced the flyer to anarchists Andrea Salsedo and Roberto Elia, both tied to the Galleanist movement. However, prosecutors were unable to gather enough evidence to secure convictions related to the bombings.

The attacks occurred during a period of intense national anxiety fueled by the aftermath of World War I, labor unrest, the Russian Revolution, and fears of radical political movements. Public outrage prompted Attorney General Palmer to launch an aggressive campaign against suspected extremists. A young Justice Department lawyer named J. Edgar Hoover was assigned to help organize intelligence efforts targeting radical groups.

These investigations ultimately led to the controversial Palmer Raids of 1919 and 1920, during which thousands of suspected radicals were arrested. The raids drew widespread criticism for civil liberties abuses and questionable legal practices, becoming a lasting controversy in American history.

Ironically, the bombing campaign itself was largely a failure. None of the principal targets were killed, many were not even home when the bombs exploded, and the attacks failed to spark the revolution their organizers hoped for. The perpetrators demonstrated a willingness to die for their cause, but their operation ultimately produced a public backlash that strengthened government efforts to suppress radical movements.

Compiled and adapted from research by Kathy Alexander, Legends of America. Original article updated March 2026.