Ella Grasso
Ella Rose Tambussi Grasso (May 10, 1919 - February 5, 1981) was an American politician. Born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut to Italian immigrant parents, she would become the first woman to be truly elected governor of a U.S. state in her own right rather than by succeeding a deceased husband or acting as his surrogate.
After attending St. Mary's School in Windsor Locks, and then the Chaffee School in Windsor, Governor Grasso went on to Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she was awarded her BA in 1940 and her MA in 1942. After graduation she served as assistant director of research for the War Manpower Commission of Connecticut.
In 1952, she was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives, 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 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-chairperson for the Resolutions Committee for the Democratic National Conventions of 1964 and 1968. In 1970 she was elected to the House of Representatives in the 92nd Congress as a Democrat representing Connecticut, and in 1972 she was re-elected, and so served Connecticut from January 3, 1971 through January 3, 1975 in the House.
In 1974 Grasso was not a candidate for re-election to Congress. Instead she ran for the office of Governor of the State of Connecticut and won. She began her first term in 1975 and was re-elected to her office in 1978.
On New Year's Eve 1980, Governor Grasso resigned her office due to illness. She was succeeded by William A. O'Neill. She died of cancer on February 5, 1981. President Reagan awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom after her death in 1981 and she was inducted to the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.
