Chuck Grassley and Beth Bobblehead Unveiled

MILWAUKEE – This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a limited-edition bobblehead featuring U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and Beth, his beloved Hoover vacuum cleaner. On Saturday, August 8th, Grassley announced Beth’s “passing” at the age of 49 due to an unrepairable electrical failure, drawing widespread media coverage. The bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

Standing on a circular red patterned carpet-like base bearing the names of Chuck Grassley and Beth, his trusty vacuum cleaner, the smiling Grassley bobblehead is wearing a suit while he is holding the vacuum cleaner in his right hand. The vacuum cleaner cord is positioned in front of Grassley at his feet and disappears off the side of the base.

The bobbleheads, which will be individually numbered, are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. Expected to ship in January, the bobbleheads cost $30 each, plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

On Saturday, August 8th, Grassley announced the retirement of his vintage 1970s Hoover Concept Two vacuum cleaner after an electrical issue rendered it unsafe to use. “Beth” was a prominent feature of Grassley’s social media posts. Named after a former Senate staffer, the vacuum was roughly 49 years old, having served in the Grassley household for 34 years and 15 years prior at his mother-in-law’s home. Grassley frequently shared photos of himself operating the appliance on major holidays, turning the vacuum into an internet meme. He famously joked that vacuuming was his preferred way to contribute to holiday preparations so he could avoid kitchen duties like peeling potatoes. Grassley announced Beth’s retirement by sharing a photo of the vacuum’s scarred electrical cord and writing in a tweet, “U will see Beth no more … GOOD BYE BETH.” Following the viral retirement, an Iowa constituent and regional director for Grassley gifted the senator a replacement 17-year-old Hoover model. Grassley dubbed the machine “Beth 2.0” and noted he would test it out to see how it compared to the original workhorse.

The 92-year-old Grassley is one of the longest-serving and oldest active politicians in U.S. history, representing Iowa in Congress for decades. He is the longest-serving Republican in congressional history and among the longest-serving senators overall. He holds the record for the longest consecutive voting streak in modern Senate history, having not missed a vote for decades. Grassley is famous for his trademark constituent outreach practice known as the “Full Grassley,” where he holds at least one open Q&A meeting in each of Iowa’s 99 counties every year.

“We’re excited to unveil this unique bobblehead featuring Chuck Grassley and Beth, the senator’s trusty Hoover vacuum cleaner,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Just like with Grassley as the oldest currently serving U.S. senator, it has been an equally good run for Beth, and we think this bobblehead will bring smiles for a lot of people.”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1^st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.