Excerpts From Unabomber’s Journal

Following are excerpts from documents prosecutors filed yesterday in Federal District Court in Sacramento, Calif., in support of a 34-page sentencing memorandum for Theodore J. Kaczynski, who on Jan. 22 pleaded guilty to 13 counts that included the bombing deaths of three people in the Unabom case. The idiosyncrasies in spelling, capitalization and abbreviation are Mr. Kaczynski's.

Journal Entry, April 6, 1971

My motive for doing what I am going to do is simply personal revenge. I do not expect to accomplish anything by it. Of course, if my crime (and my reasons for committing it) gets any public attention, it may help to stimulate public interest in the technology question and thereby improve the chances of stopping technology it is too late; but on the other hand most people will probably be repelled by my crime, and the opponents of freedom may use it as a weapon to support their arguments for control over human behavior. I have no way of knowing whether my action will do more good than harm. I certainly don't claim to be an altruist or to be acting for the 'good' (whatever that is) of the human race. I act merely from a desire for revenge. Of course, I would like to get revenge on the whole scientific and bureaucratic establishment, not to mention communists and others who threaten freedom, but, that being impossible, I have to content myself with just a little revenge.

These days it is fashionable to ascribe sick-sounding motivations (in may cases correctly, I admit) to persons who commit antisocial acts. Perhaps some people will deny that I am motivated by a hatred for what is happening to freedom. However, I think I know myself pretty well and I think they are wrong.

Journal Entry, Christmas 1972

About a year and a half ago, I planned to murder a scientist -- as a means of revenge against organized society in general and the technological establishment in particular. . . . Unfortunately, I chickened out. I couldn't work up the nerve to do it. . . . My plan was such that there was very little chance of my getting caught. I had no qualms before i tried to do it, and I thought I would have no difficulty. I had everything well prepared.

From Coded Book

In June 1980, I sent a bomb to P. S. Wood, Pses. of United Air Lines according to newspapers he was hospitalized with cuts and burns and had surgery for removal of fragments. . . . F.B.I. said bomb had enuf powder to kill, but ''faulty craftmanship weakened it cause culprit ''left something loore.'' This false, tho my design may have been poor due to ignorance of the technology. The detonator did all I designed it to do. It ignited the powder. I know for certain there was nothing 'loose' in the explosive unit itself, cause the ends of the pipe were stopped with pooddn plugs fastened with epoxy and for each plug two nails passing thru plug and both sides of pipe. . . . After complicated preparations I succeeded in injuring the pres of United A.L. . . .

My projects for revenge on the technological society are expensive and I need money to carry them out. For instance, last fall I attempted a bombing and spent nearly three hundred bucks just for travel expenses, motel, clothing for disguise, etc. aside from cost of materials for bomb. And then the thing failed to explode. Damn. This was the firebomb found in U. of Utah Business School outside door of room containing some computer stuff. . . .

May about 1982 I sent a bomb to a computer expert named Patrick Fischer. His secretary opened it. One newspaper said she was in hospital? in good condition? With arm and chest cuts. Other newspaper said bomb drove fragments of wood into her flesh. But no indication that she was permanently disabled. Frustrating that I cant seem to makeo lethal bomb. Used shotgun powder in this last hoping it would do better than rifle powder x x x Revenge attempts have been gobbling much time, impeding other work. But I must succeed, must get revenge.

On the Angelakos Bomb

Not long after foregoing, I think in June or July, I went to U. of California Berkeley and placed in Computer Science Building a bomb consisting of a pipebomb in a gallon can of gasoline. According to newspaper, vice chairman of computer sci. dept. picked it up. He wsa considered to be 'out of danger of losing any fingers', but would need further surgery for bone and tendon damage in hand. Apparently pipebomb went off but did not ignite gasoline. I dont understand it. Frustrated. Trveling expenses for raids such as the foregoing are very hard on my slender financial resources.

On the Scrutton Bomb

Experiment 97. Dec. 11, 1985 I planted bomb disguised to look like scrap of lumber behind Rentech Computer Store in Sacramento. According to San Francisio Examiner, Dec. 20, the 'operator' (owner? manager?) of the store was killed, 'blown to bits', on Dec. 12. Excellent. Humane way to eiiminate somebody. He probably never felt a thing. 25000 dollar reward offered. Rather flattering.

On the Murray Bomb

This is a message from FC, 553-25-4394 . . . . We have no regret about the fact that our bomb blew up the 'wrong' man, Gilbert Murray, instead of William N. Dennison, to whom it was addressed . . . It was reported that the bomb that killed Gilbert Murray was a pipe bomb. It was not a pipe bomb but was set off by a home made detonating cap.