Ella T. Grasso facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ella T. Grasso
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| 83rd Governor of Connecticut | |
| In office January 8, 1975 – December 31, 1980 |
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| 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 |
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| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1975 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Meskill |
| Succeeded by | Toby Moffett |
| 64th Secretary of the State of Connecticut | |
| In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1971 |
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| Governor | Abraham Ribicoff John Dempsey |
| Preceded by | Mildred P. Allen |
| Succeeded by | Gloria Schaffer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Tambussi
May 10, 1919 Windsor Locks, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 1981 (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 |
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| Education | Mount Holyoke College (BA, MA) |
Ella Grasso (born Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Tambussi; May 10, 1919 – February 5, 1981) was an important American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. Ella Grasso served as the 83rd Governor of Connecticut. Her term was from January 8, 1975, to December 31, 1980.
She made history as the first woman elected to this high office in Connecticut. She was also the first woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state who had not been married to a former governor. She had to step down from her role as governor because she was battling ovarian cancer.
Grasso began her political journey with the League of Women Voters. She was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1952. In 1955, she became the first female Floor Leader in the House. Later, she was elected as Secretary of the State of Connecticut in 1958, serving until 1971. Grasso then served two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1970 to 1974. She was elected Governor in 1974 and won re-election in 1978.
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Early Life and Education
Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Tambussi was born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Her parents, Maria Oliva and James Giacomo Tambussi, were Italian immigrants. 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, she sometimes felt out of place. This was because she came from a poorer mill 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 finishing college, Grasso worked as a researcher for the War Manpower Commission in Washington, D.C.. She became an assistant director of research. 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. Ella Grasso would sell tickets at the box office during the summers.
Political Career Highlights
Starting in Politics
Ella Grasso first got involved in politics in 1942. She joined the League of Women Voters. In 1943, she started writing speeches for the Connecticut Democratic Party. She was briefly a member of the Republicans before switching back to the Democratic Party in 1951. She became a close friend and ally of John M. Bailey, a key Democratic leader. He saw her as someone who could connect with many voters, especially women and Italian voters.
In 1952, Grasso was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. She served there until 1957. In 1955, she became the first woman to be elected Floor Leader of the House. As a state representative, she 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. She played a big part in creating the state's 1960 Constitution. She believed in using state funds wisely. For example, in 1961, she chose not to attend a national convention herself. She only approved officials to go if it would truly help the state.
She was also the first woman to lead the Democratic State Platform Committee. She served on this committee from 1956 to 1968. She helped draft the platform for the 1960 Democratic National Convention. She also co-chaired the Resolutions Committee for the Democratic National Conventions in 1964 and 1968.
Serving in Congress
In 1970, Ella Grasso decided to run for the United States House of Representatives. She ran for the Sixth House District. The current Congressman, Thomas Meskill, was running for governor, leaving the seat open. On March 17, 1970, Ella announced her campaign. She won the election, though it was a close race.
While in Congress, she worked on committees dealing with Veterans' Affairs and Education and Labor. She was re-elected to the House in 1972.
Becoming Governor of Connecticut
In 1973, polls showed that Ella Grasso could win the governorship. On January 8, 1974, she officially announced her plan to run for governor. She worked hard to win the Democratic nomination. She faced a tough primary challenge from Attorney General Robert Killian. However, she secured enough support to become the nominee. On July 20, 1974, she was officially given the Democratic nomination.
She then ran against Republican Representative Robert Steele. Ella Grasso won by a large number of votes. This made her the first woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor.
When she took office, Connecticut faced a large budget problem. Grasso promised to be careful with the state's money. In 1975, she made tough decisions. She laid off state employees and reduced funds for cities. She even returned a pay raise she was legally supposed to take. She also sold the state's limousine and plane.
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", brought about 30 inches of snow. Roads became impassable. Grasso declared the state "closed." She stopped all public road use for businesses and citizens. This allowed rescue and cleanup teams to work more easily. 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, less than two months after leaving office. She died at Hartford Hospital after a heart attack. She was laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery in Windsor Locks.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is a very high award for civilians. In 1993, she was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame. She was also part of the first group of women 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 to remember her contributions. These include:
- A Metro North train car (Shoreliner I car 6252).
- Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School in Groton.
- The Ella T. Grasso Turnpike in Windsor Locks.
- Ella Grasso Boulevard in New Britain.
- The Ella T. Grasso building at the University of Connecticut's Hilltop Apartments.
- Ella T. Grasso Boulevard in New Haven.
Even a TV channel in Hartford, WTIC-TV (Channel 61), was dedicated in her honor when it started broadcasting in 1984.
See also
In Spanish: Ella Grasso para niños
