Ella Grasso facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ella Grasso
83rd Governor of Connecticut
In office January 8, 1975 – December 31, 1980
Lieutenant	Robert Killian William A. O'Neill
Preceded by	Thomas Meskill
Succeeded by	William A. O'Neill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 6th district
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1975
Preceded by	Thomas Meskill
Succeeded by	Toby Moffett
64th Secretary of the State of Connecticut
In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1971
Governor	Abraham Ribicoff John Dempsey
Preceded by	Mildred P. Allen
Succeeded by	Gloria Schaffer
Personal details
Born	Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Tambussi (1919-05-10)May 10, 1919 Windsor Locks, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	February 5, 1981(1981-02-05) (aged 61) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Resting place	St. Mary's Cemetery, Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Political party	Democratic (before 1942, after 1951)
Other political affiliations	Republican (1942–1951)
Spouse	Thomas Grasso ​ (m. 1942)​
Children	2
Parents	James Giacomo Tambussi (father) Maria Oliva (mother)
Education	Mount Holyoke College (BA, MA)

Ella Grasso (born Ella Tambussi; May 10, 1919 – February 5, 1981) was an American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. Ella Grasso served as the 83rd Governor of Connecticut. She held this office from January 8, 1975, to December 31, 1980.

Ella Grasso was the first woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state. She was also the first woman to win this office without being the wife or widow of a former governor. She had to leave her role as governor because she was battling ovarian cancer.

Grasso began her political journey with the League of Women Voters. She was also a speechwriter for the Democratic Party. In 1952, she was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. She became the first female Floor Leader in 1955. Later, she was elected as Secretary of the State of Connecticut in 1958. She served in this role until 1971. From 1970 to 1974, Grasso served two terms in the United States House of Representatives. She was elected Governor in 1974 and won re-election in 1978.

Early Life and Education

Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Tambussi was born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Her parents, Maria Oliva and James Giacomo Tambussi, were immigrants from Italy. Her father worked in a mill. Ella learned to speak fluent Italian from her parents.

She attended Chaffee School in Windsor. Even though she did very well there, Ella sometimes felt different because she came from a poor town. She then studied sociology and economics at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1940 and a master's degree two years later.

After college, Grasso worked as a researcher in Washington, D.C. She worked for the War Manpower Commission. She became an assistant director of research before leaving in 1946. In 1942, she married Thomas Grasso, who was a school principal. They had two children, Susanne and James.

The Grassos owned a movie theater in Old Lyme, Connecticut. In the summers, Ella would sell tickets at the box office. When Ella was a U.S. Representative, her family stayed in Connecticut. She would travel home from Washington, D.C., on weekends. Thomas Grasso retired when his wife became governor.

Political Career

Starting in Politics

Ella Grasso started in politics in 1942. She joined the League of Women Voters. In 1943, she began writing speeches for the Connecticut Democratic Party. She was briefly a Republican but switched to the Democratic Party in 1951. She wanted to support Governor Chester Bowles.

Through the Democratic Party, she met John Moran Bailey. He became an important person in her career. Bailey saw that she could connect well with voters, especially women and Italian voters.

Serving in the State House

In 1952, Grasso was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. She served there until 1957. In 1955, she made history by becoming the first woman to be elected Floor Leader of the House. As a state representative, Grasso worked to remove counties as a level of government in Connecticut.

Secretary of State Role

In 1958, Ella Grasso was elected Secretary of the State of Connecticut. She was re-elected in 1962 and 1966. The Secretary of State is a top official who manages state records and elections. She helped create the state's 1960 Constitution.

In 1961, she decided not to go to a national convention. She felt it would not benefit the state. She only approved trips for officials if they would help Connecticut.

In 1962, the Supreme Court made a ruling about how voting districts were set up. This led to changes in the state constitution. Grasso was elected as a delegate to the convention that would update the constitution. As Secretary of State, she swore in the delegates. She was also chosen as the Democratic floor leader for the convention.

She was the first woman to lead the Democratic State Platform Committee. She served on this committee from 1956 to 1968. She also helped draft the platform for the 1960 Democratic National Convention. She was a co-chairman for the Resolutions Committee at the 1964 and 1968 Democratic National Conventions.

In the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1970, Ella Grasso decided to run for a higher office. She ran for the United States House of Representatives. She announced her campaign for the Sixth House District. She won the election against Republican Richard Kilborn.

While in the House, she served on committees dealing with veterans' affairs and education. In 1971, she and other House members protested the bombing in Vietnam. Grasso was the only representative from Connecticut to sign the telegram. She was reelected to the House in 1972.

Becoming Governor

In 1973, polls showed that Grasso could win the governor's race. On January 8, 1974, she announced she would run for governor. She faced a tough primary election against Attorney General Robert Killian. However, she secured the nomination. She defeated Republican Representative Robert Steele by a large number of votes.

Ella Grasso became the first woman elected governor who was not related to a past governor. When she took office, Connecticut had a large budget problem. Grasso promised to be careful with state money. In 1975, she laid off state employees. She also returned a pay raise she was supposed to take. She even sold the state's limo and plane.

In 1976, she supported Senator Henry M. Jackson for president. She was also considered as a possible vice presidential candidate. However, she said she was not interested. She later helped lead the 1976 Democratic National Convention.

Grasso was re-elected governor in 1978. She easily defeated Representative Ronald A. Sarasin.

A major moment in her time as governor was how she handled a huge snowstorm in February 1978. This storm, known as "The Blizzard of 78," dropped about 30 inches of snow. It made roads impassable. Grasso "Closed the State" by telling everyone to stay home. This allowed rescue and cleanup crews to work without getting stuck cars in the way. She received much praise for her strong leadership during this crisis.

In March 1980, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She resigned from her position as governor on December 31, 1980.

Death and Lasting Impact

Ella Grasso passed away on February 5, 1981. This was less than a year after her cancer diagnosis. It was also less than six weeks after she left office. She died at Hartford Hospital after a heart attack. She was survived by her husband and two children.

Her body was placed in the Connecticut State Capitol for people to pay their respects. She was later buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Windsor Locks.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is a very high honor. In 1993, she was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame. She was also part of the first group of people inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame in 1994. The Ella Tambussi Grasso Center for Women in Politics is located there.

Many places and things are named after her. A Metro North train car is named after her. The Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School in Groton carries her name. There are also roads and buildings named after her in Connecticut. These include the Ella T. Grasso Turnpike in Windsor Locks and Ella Grasso Boulevard in New Britain and New Haven.

A TV station in Hartford, Channel 61, was planned to be named "WETG" after her initials. However, it launched as WTIC-TV in 1984. It was still dedicated in her honor.

See also

In Spanish: Ella Grasso para niños

• List of female governors in the United States
• Women in the United States House of Representatives