Chuck Grassley’s Vacuum Beth Dies After Decades

Sen. Chuck Grassley’s longtime vacuum cleaner, Beth, has finally died after decades of service in the Iowa Republican’s home. The 1970s-era Hoover became an unlikely internet celebrity over the years as Grassley shared photos of it, often tying the appliance to holidays and to his own reputation for thrift, durability and routine.

The 92-year-old Senate pro tempore announced Beth’s demise on X on Saturday, saying the vacuum’s plug sparked because of an apparent electrical malfunction. In a post accompanied by a photo of what he described as Beth’s remains, Grassley said the machine was no longer safe to use. “U willl see Beth no more,” he wrote, adding that black marks on the plug came from electrical sparks. He closed the message with a wistful farewell: “GOOD BYE BETH .U hv [sic] been a real workhorse. Ur namesake still is hard worker. I will miss u.”

Grassley later reflected on the appliance’s unusually long life, saying it had served him for 34 years and had previously been in his mother-in-law’s home for 15 years before that. He described the moment as “a sad day at Grassley household” and said Beth had “worked dependably” across all those years. The tone of the posts fit the lighthearted, homespun style Grassley has used in the past when talking about the vacuum, which had gradually taken on a life of its own as a symbol of the senator’s no-frills brand.

That brand has long been central to Grassley’s public image. A fixture in Iowa politics and in the US Senate for decades, he has often projected an image of practicality, discipline and staying power. Beth became an extension of that persona, a mundane household object transformed into a recurring character in Grassley’s public communications. In an era when politicians often rely on polished messaging, the vacuum’s repeated appearances helped reinforce a more old-fashioned sense of personal authenticity.