Ella T. Grasso
Encyclopedia
Ella Grasso born Ella Giovanna Oliva Tambussi, was an American
politician, and first woman elected governor of Connecticut
.
, to Italian immigrant parents. Contrary to popular belief, she was not the first elected woman to serve as governor of a U.S. state; however, Grasso was the first woman who was elected governor "in her own right," without being the wife or widow of a past governor. She was also the first female governor of Connecticut.
After attending St. Mary's School in Windsor Locks, and then the Chaffee School
in Windsor, Grasso went on to Mount Holyoke College
, in South Hadley
, Massachusetts
, where she was awarded her B.A. in 1940 and her M.A. in 1942. After graduation, she served as assistant director of research for the War Manpower Commission of Connecticut.
Grasso's summer home was located on Duck River Lane in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
and served until 1957. She became first woman to be elected Floor Leader
of the House in 1955. In 1958 she was elected Secretary of the State of Connecticut
and was re-elected in 1962 and 1966. She was the first woman to chair the Democratic State Platform Committee and served from 1956 to 1968. She served as a member of the Platform Drafting Committee for the 1960 Democratic National Convention
. She was the co-chairman for the Resolutions Committee for the Democratic National Conventions of 1964 and 1968. In 1970 she was elected as a Democratic representative to the 92nd Congress
, and won re-election in 1972.
In 1974 Grasso did not run for re-election to Congress, instead running for the Connecticut governorship, and won. She began her first term in 1975, and was elected to a second term in 1978.
A high point of her career was her decisive handling of a particularly devastating snow storm in February of 1978. Known as "The Blizzard of 78" this storm dropped around 30 inches of snow across the state, crippling highways and making virtually all roads impassible. In a bold move, Governor Grasso "Closed the State" by proclamation, and forbade all use of public roads by businesses and citizens and closed all businesses, effectively closing all citizens in their homes. This relieved the rescue and cleanup authorities from the need to help the mounting number of stuck cars, and instead allowed clean-up and emergency services for shut-ins to proceed. The crisis ended on the third day, and she received accolades from all state sectors for her leadership and strength.
Grasso was married to Thomas Grasso in 1942, and together they had two children, Susanne and James. On December 31, 1980, Grasso resigned her office due to her ovarian cancer
, and died of it several weeks later on February 5, 1981, at the age of 61. Later that year, President
Ronald Reagan
posthumously awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom
, and the National Women's Hall of Fame
inducted her in 1993. She was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame in 1994.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, and first woman elected governor of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Biography
Grasso was born in Windsor Locks, ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, to Italian immigrant parents. Contrary to popular belief, she was not the first elected woman to serve as governor of a U.S. state; however, Grasso was the first woman who was elected governor "in her own right," without being the wife or widow of a past governor. She was also the first female governor of Connecticut.
After attending St. Mary's School in Windsor Locks, and then the Chaffee School
Loomis Chaffee
The Loomis Chaffee School is a premier coeducational boarding school for grades 9–12 and postgraduates located on a 300-plus acre campus in the Connecticut River Valley in Windsor, Connecticut, six miles north of Hartford...
in Windsor, Grasso went on to Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
, in South Hadley
South Hadley, Massachusetts
South Hadley is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,514 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where she was awarded her B.A. in 1940 and her M.A. in 1942. After graduation, she served as assistant director of research for the War Manpower Commission of Connecticut.
Grasso's summer home was located on Duck River Lane in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
Politics
In 1952, Grasso was elected to the Connecticut House of RepresentativesConnecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
and served until 1957. She became first woman to be elected Floor Leader
Floor Leader
Floor Leaders are leaders of their political parties in each of the houses of the legislature.- Senate :In the United States Senate, they are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and...
of the House in 1955. In 1958 she was elected Secretary of the State of Connecticut
Secretary of the State of Connecticut
The Secretary of the State of Connecticut is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is an elected position in the state government and has a term length of four years....
and was re-elected in 1962 and 1966. She was the first woman to chair the Democratic State Platform Committee and served from 1956 to 1968. She served as a member of the Platform Drafting Committee for the 1960 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
. She was the co-chairman for the Resolutions Committee for the Democratic National Conventions of 1964 and 1968. In 1970 she was elected as a Democratic representative to the 92nd Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, and won re-election in 1972.
In 1974 Grasso did not run for re-election to Congress, instead running for the Connecticut governorship, and won. She began her first term in 1975, and was elected to a second term in 1978.
A high point of her career was her decisive handling of a particularly devastating snow storm in February of 1978. Known as "The Blizzard of 78" this storm dropped around 30 inches of snow across the state, crippling highways and making virtually all roads impassible. In a bold move, Governor Grasso "Closed the State" by proclamation, and forbade all use of public roads by businesses and citizens and closed all businesses, effectively closing all citizens in their homes. This relieved the rescue and cleanup authorities from the need to help the mounting number of stuck cars, and instead allowed clean-up and emergency services for shut-ins to proceed. The crisis ended on the third day, and she received accolades from all state sectors for her leadership and strength.
Grasso was married to Thomas Grasso in 1942, and together they had two children, Susanne and James. On December 31, 1980, Grasso resigned her office due to her ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
, and died of it several weeks later on February 5, 1981, at the age of 61. Later that year, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
posthumously awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
, and the National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame
The National Women's Hall of Fame is an American institution. It was created in 1969 by a group of people in Seneca Falls, New York, the location of the 1848 Women's Rights Convention...
inducted her in 1993. She was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame in 1994.
External links
- Mount Holyoke biography
- Brief biography
- Bartleby biography
- Ella T. Grasso Papers at Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
- Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame Bio
- Ella Tambussi Grasso Center for Women in Politics
- Connecticut State Library Bio
- Photo of Grasso's Statue on the Connecticut State Capitol building the first woman to be represented there