Biden Claims His Great-Grandfather Was Accused of Being Part of Notorious Coal Miners in Extended Anecdote

President Joe Biden shared an unusual anecdote during a speech to union workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Monday.

He claimed that his great-grandfather, Edward Francis Blewitt, was rumoured to have been involved with the Molly Maguires, a group of coal miners known for violent opposition to anti-Catholic supervisors in the 19th century.

President Biden recounted that during his great-grandfather’s 1906 election campaign for the Pennsylvania state Senate, opponents accused him of being a member of the Molly Maguires.

He explained that Irish Catholic miners in Pennsylvania were often mistreated by the predominantly English mine owners and foremen, leading to violent acts of retaliation by the Molly Maguires. According to Biden, this group would sometimes kill abusive supervisors and leave their bodies on the doorsteps of their homes.

President Biden humorously remarked about the accusations and expressed his disappointment that his great-grandfather was not a group member.

Vice President Kamala Harris and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who were present on stage, reacted to the anecdote; Harris laughed, and Biden assured the crowd that his comments were intended as a joke.

President Biden’s story was supported by a 2020 article in Irish American Magazine, which referenced the alleged connection between his great-grandfather and the Molly Maguires.

The magazine also noted that Biden had previously shared a similar story during his 2008 campaign with former President Barack Obama, in which he humorously wished his great-grandfather had been a Molly Maguire.