Chuck Grassley, the 93-year-old U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee chair, has revealed that he has been using a 1970s vacuum cleaner for 49 years, far exceeding the typical lifespan of most vacuum cleaners.
On August 8, Grassley announced the retirement of his 49-year-old vacuum, named 'Bess,' in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He stated, "We will no longer see Bess," adding that the black marks in the photo were caused by electrical sparks and that it is no longer safe to use. He referred to the vacuum as a "faithful worker."
Grassley's vacuum is a Hoover brand model from the 1970s. It was initially used for 15 years by Grassley's in-laws before he used it for an additional 34 years. The name 'Bess' was inspired by a former staff member in Grassley's Senate office.
Bess frequently appeared in Grassley's social media posts, with the first mention estimated to be in 2018. Ahead of Thanksgiving that year, Grassley tweeted, "Mrs. G and daughter Wendy are preparing a meal for 30 at the farm, and I’m starting my share of the housework. This is my vacuum, Bess." He also noted that on Christmas 2022, "faithful Bess worked for three hours to clean up for about 25 to 30 members of the Grassley family."
According to Hoover, the average lifespan of their vacuum cleaners is about five years for cordless models and eight years for corded ones. Grassley's corded model has been used six times longer than the average. Techtronic Industries, which owns Hoover, did not respond to a request for comment from The New York Times.
Following the announcement of Bess's 'death,' comments from fellow politicians poured in. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) expressed his condolences, saying, "I’m sorry for your loss. They don’t seem to make them as sturdy as they used to." Iowa State Representative Josh Turck also commented on social media, "Senator, I’m sorry for your loss."
Grassley is known for his frugal character in U.S. political circles. According to Radio Iowa, he humorously referred to his thriftiness in a tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham in July, saying, "Senator Graham liked to tell people how frugal I am, saying that if I opened my wallet, dust and moss would come out."
The Des Moines Register reported that Grassley plans to replace Bess with a new Hoover vacuum following a suggestion from a constituent in Sioux City, Iowa.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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