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Oldest U.S. Senator, 92, Mourns Death of Also Very Old Vacuum

“Please respect Team Grassley’s privacy during this difficult time.”

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley bid farewell to his beloved vacuum cleaner “Beth” on Saturday. “U willl see Beth no more,” the 92-year-old wrote on X, with a photo of the roughly 49-year-old vacuum with visible burn marks near its power cord. “See black that’s from electrical sparks. It’s not safe to use anymore. GOOD BYE BETH . U hv been a real workhorse. Ur namesake still is hard worker. I will miss u.” In a follow-up post, Grassley added that, “It’s a sad day” and noted that Beth had worked “dependably” for 34 years in his home and another 15 years at his mother-in-law’s house. The Senator has shown his affection towards the vacuum on social media before. “Beth + I are ready & working hard to prepare for Grassley family thxgiving at the farm She never lets me down & im grateful I can count on OLD FAITHFUL,” the Senator wrote in a 2023 post on X. The vacuum’s demise was given an obituary in the New York Times. Claire Slattery, Grassley’s communications director, asked the public on X to “please respect Team Grassley’s privacy during this difficult time.”