
Foiled Plot: The 1928 Attempt on President Hoover’s Life Exposed
The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday highlights the ongoing history of political violence against those who have held the office of President
What other presidents have faced violence?
While the assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Robert F. Kennedy are well-known, many other attempts on presidential lives are less remembered. One such attempt was the 1928 plot against Herbert Hoover, the West Branch native and 31st President of the United States.
After being elected on November 6, 1928, Hoover, accompanied by his wife Lou Hoover, embarked on a goodwill tour of Latin America aboard the USS Utah. The trip aimed to promote peace and unity among the nations of the Americas. As part of the tour, Hoover visited Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, with plans to reach Argentina in December. However, Hoover’s visit came under threat from Argentinean anarchist Severino Di Giovanni.
Di Giovanni, an Italian immigrant and radical activist, had a history of violent acts, including bombing the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires. Motivated by revenge against the U.S. for the execution of two American anarchists in 1927, Di Giovanni saw Hoover’s trip as an opportunity to act. He recruited Alejandro Scarfó, another anarchist, to help carry out a plot to assassinate the President.

How did they plan to assassinate the President?
Scarfó’s plan was to plant explosives on the railroad tracks as Hoover’s train approached Buenos Aires. Fortunately, Argentinean police intercepted several anarchists before they could execute the plot. They discovered a railroad map marked with Hoover’s route and a stash of bombs and weapons. Scarfó confessed to the assassination attempt, leading to increased security measures for Hoover’s visit.
There wasn't just one attempt on the president's life
After Hoover’s inauguration, the Secret Service uncovered another plot against him in Miami and thwarted a potential train crash assassination attempt during a western tour. The threats during the Great Depression underscored the need for stronger presidential security, leading to tighter protective measures for future presidents.
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