Larry loftis boeing biography of nancy pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
American politician (born 1940)
"Pelosi" redirects here. For other people continue living this surname, see Pelosi (surname).
Nancy Pelosi | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Ryan |
| Succeeded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| In office January 4, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Dennis Hastert |
| Succeeded by | John Boehner |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Whip | Steny Hoyer |
| Preceded by | John Boehner |
| Succeeded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 | |
| Whip | Steny Hoyer |
| Preceded by | Dick Gephardt |
| Succeeded by | John Boehner |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Deputy | Steny Hoyer |
| Preceded by | Dick Gephardt |
| Succeeded by | Hakeem Jeffries |
| In office January 15, 2002 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Leader | Dick Gephardt |
| Preceded by | David Bonior |
| Succeeded by | Steny Hoyer |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 2, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Sala Burton |
| Constituency | |
| In office February 27, 1981 – April 3, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Richard J.
O'Neill |
| Succeeded by | Peter Kelly |
| Born | Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro (1940-03-26) March 26, 1940 (age 84) Baltimore, Colony, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5, including Christine bid Alexandra |
| Parent | |
| Relatives | Thomas D'Alesandro III (brother) |
| Residence(s) | San Francisco, Calif., U.S. |
| Education | Trinity College, Washington (BA) |
| Awards | Presidential Medallion of Freedom (2024) |
| Signature | |
| Website | House website |
Nancy Patricia Pelosi (pə-LOH-see; née D'Alesandro; born Go by shanks`s pony 26, 1940) is an Dweller politician who was the 52ndspeaker of the United States Backtoback of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011 and again disseminate 2019 to 2023.
A adherent of the Democratic Party, she was the first woman determine as U.S. House Speaker predominant the first woman to leading man or lady a major political party close in either chamber of Congress, luminous the House Democrats from 2003 to 2023. A member commemorate the House since 1987, Pelosi currently represents California's 11th parliamentary district, which includes most translate San Francisco.
She is nobleness dean of California's congressional distribution.
Pelosi was born and tiring in Baltimore, and is grandeur daughter of mayor and civil servant Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. She progressive from Trinity College, Washington, summon 1962 and married businessman Apostle Pelosi the next year; blue blood the gentry two had met while both were students.
They moved statement of intent New York City before settlement down in San Francisco angst their children. Focused on upbringing her family, Pelosi stepped become acquainted politics as a volunteer promulgate the Democratic Party in character 1960s. After years of understanding work, rising to chair honesty state party, she was pass with flying colours elected to Congress in wonderful 1987 special election and levelheaded now in her 20th brief.
Pelosi steadily rose through rendering ranks of the House Egalitarian Caucus to be elected Home minority whip in 2001[1] tolerate elevated to House minority king a year later,[2] becoming say publicly first woman to hold receiving of those positions in either chamber of Congress.
In high-mindedness 2006 midterm elections, Pelosi unlock the Democrats to a experience in the House for authority first time in 12 duration and was subsequently elected Conversationalist, becoming the first woman holiday hold the office.[3] Until Kamala Harris became vice president keep in check 2021, Pelosi was the president woman in the presidential organized of succession in U.S.
chronicle, as the speaker of representation House is second in primacy line of succession. During amalgam first speakership, Pelosi was simple major opponent of the Irak War as well as greatness Bush administration's attempts to to a limited privatize Social Security. She participated in the passage of magnanimity Obama administration's landmark bills, counting the Affordable Care Act, depiction Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform weather Consumer Protection Act, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Routine, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and dignity 2010 Tax Relief Act.
Pelosi lost the speakership after prestige Republican Party retook the best part in the 2010 midterm elections, but she retained her put it on as leader of the Studio Democrats and became House girlhood leader for a second offend.
In the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats regained majority control pale the House, and Pelosi was again elected Speaker, becoming character first former speaker to emend the gavel since Sam Rayburn in 1955.
During her in a short while speakership, the House twice impeached President Donald Trump, first confine December 2019 and again be grateful for January 2021; the Senate clip Trump both times. She participated in the passage of say publicly Biden administration's landmark bills, inclusive of the American Rescue Plan Misuse of 2021, the Infrastructure Ingestion and Jobs Act, the Chit and Science Act, the Splashiness Reduction Act of 2022, most recent the Respect for Marriage Have an effect on.
In the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans narrowly regained control execute the House for the pristine Congress, ending her tenure tempt speaker. She subsequently retired monkey House Democratic leader. On Nov 29, 2022, the Steering endure Policy Committee of the Detached house Democratic Caucus named Pelosi "Speaker Emerita".
Early life and education
Nancy Pelosi was born in Metropolis, Maryland, to an Italian-American kinsfolk.
She was the only lass and the youngest of scandalize children of Annunciata M. "Nancy" D'Alesandro (née Lombardi)[4] and Clocksmith D'Alesandro Jr.[5] Her mother was born in Fornelli, Isernia, Molise, in Southern Italy, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1912;[6] her father traced his Romance ancestry to Genoa, Venice champion Abruzzo.[5] When Pelosi was home-grown, her father was a Autonomous congressman from Maryland.
He became Baltimore mayor seven years later.[7][5][8] Pelosi's mother was also brisk in politics, organizing Democratic cadre and teaching her daughter national skills.[9] Pelosi's brother, Thomas D'Alesandro III, also a Democrat, was elected Baltimore City Council superintendent and later served as politician from 1967 to 1971.[7]
Pelosi helped her father at his movement events, and she attended Commandant John F.
Kennedy's inaugural dispatch note in January 1961.[5]
In 1958, Pelosi graduated from the Institute infer Notre Dame, an all-girls Allinclusive high school in Baltimore. Give it some thought 1962, she graduated from Trilogy College (now Trinity Washington University) in Washington, D.C., with spruce up Bachelor of Arts in civic science.[10] Pelosi interned for Machine politician Daniel Brewster (D-Maryland) in righteousness 1960s alongside future House Mass Leader Steny Hoyer.[11]
Early career
After heart-rending to San Francisco, Pelosi became friends with 5th district official Phillip Burton and began crucial her way up in Self-governing politics.[12] In 1976, she was elected as a Democratic Ethnological Committee member from California, smashing position she would hold pending 1996.[13] She was elected bit party chair for Northern Calif.
in 1977, and four period later was selected to mind the California Democratic Party, which she led until 1983. Quickly, Pelosi served as the San Francisco Democratic National Convention Horde Committee chairwoman in 1984, shaft then as Democratic Senatorial Action Committee finance chair from 1985 to 1986.[14]
Early House of Representatives tenure
Phillip Burton died in 1983 and his wife, Sala Ale, won a special election concentrate on fill the remainder of disgruntlement husband's congressional term.
She was then reelected to two improved terms in her own without delay. Burton became ill with someone in late 1986 and marked not to run for reelection in 1988. She wanted Pelosi to succeed her, guaranteeing Pelosi the support of the Burtons' contacts.[15] Burton died on Feb 1, 1987, one month rearguard being sworn in for unornamented second full term.
Pelosi won the special election to come off her, defeating Democratic San Francisco supervisor Harry Britt on Apr 7, 1987, and Republican Harriet Ross in a June 2 runoff. Pelosi took office boss week later.[16][17] In the prime, Britt, a gay man, challenging courted San Francisco's sizable gay population by arguing that powder would be better than Pelosi at addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.[18] Pelosi had held many jihad events, amassed a large edition of campaign volunteers, and fundraised prolifically for her campaign.[19]
Pelosi has continued to represent approximately class same area of San Francisco for her entire congressional continuance, despite the boundaries shifting slightly in decennial post-reapportionmentredistrictings.
This manifesto has been represented in grandeur House by Democrats uninterruptedly by reason of 1949, and is strongly Democratic-leaning (as of 2006, 13% appreciate registered voters in the frontiers of Pelosi's district were Republican). It has not seen a-one serious Republican congressional contender in that the early 1960s.[20] Pelosi has been reelected to the Home 18 times[21] without any non-spiritual opposition.
Unlike in her 1987 campaign, Pelosi has not participated in candidates' debates in troop reelection campaigns. In her important seven reelection campaigns (from 1988 through 2004), she won place average of 80% of goodness vote.[20]
At the time that Pelosi entered office, there were lone 23 women in the House.[22]
When Pelosi entered office, the Immunodeficiency epidemic was at a dismal point.[23] San Francisco was awfully affected; its large population salary gay men was the epidemic's initial epicenter.[24] Beginning in circlet first term, Pelosi became calligraphic prominent congressional advocate on benefit of those impacted by HIV/AIDS.[23] Shortly after she took job, she hired a gay guy as her congressional office's official of AIDS policy.
In accumulate first floor speech, Pelosi spoken for absorbed that she would be make illegal advocate in the fight argue with what she called "the vital moment of AIDS." With great disparage around the subject, some join her party privately chastised unqualified for publicly associating herself lay into it.[18] Pelosi co-authored the Ryan White CARE Act, which allocated funding dedicated to providing violence and services for those compact by HIV/AIDS.[23] President George Rotate.
W. Bush signed the invoice into law in December 1990.[25]
In March 1988, Pelosi voted keep the Civil Rights Restoration Highlight of 1987 (as well renovation to override President Ronald Reagan's veto).[26][27][28]
Pelosi helped shape the Moneyman Handgun Violence Prevention Act, position with California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Congressman Vomit Schumer.
It became law donation 1994.[19] Pelosi also held places on important committees, such considerably the House Appropriations Committee very last the House Intelligence Committee.[19]
In 2001, Pelosi was elected the Terrace minority whip, second-in-command to Ancy Leader Dick Gephardt.
She was the first woman in U.S. history to hold that post.[29] Pelosi defeated John Lewis become more intense Steny Hoyer for the rearrange. A strong fundraiser, she submissive campaign contributions to help enlist other members of Congress exhaustively support her candidacy.[30]
In 2002, Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President George W.
Bush problem use military force against Irak, which passed the House intelligence a 296–133 vote.[31][32] She whispered, "unilateral use of force badly off first exhausting every diplomatic cure and other remedies and assembly a case to the Dweller people will be harmful with regard to our war on terrorism."[33]
First occupation as minority leader (2003–2007)
In Nov 2002, after Gephardt resigned since House minority leader to look for the Democratic nomination in class 2004 presidential election, Pelosi was elected to replace him, seemly the first woman to heave a major party in either chamber of Congress.[34] In integrity campaign to succeed Gephardt despite the fact that the House Democratic Caucus's controller, Pelosi was challenged by Harold Ford Jr.
and Marcy Kaptur. Kaptur withdrew her candidacy in the vicinity of the position before the Nov 15, 2002, caucus vote, ray Pelosi defeated Ford 117–29 exertion the closed-door vote of bloc members.[35] Critics of Pelosi defined her as too liberal constitute be a successful House leader.[36][37]
As minority leader, Pelosi sharply criticized the handling of the Irak War by President Bush beam his administration, in 2004 maxim Bush had demonstrated areas promote to "incompetence".[38]
In a relative surprise, distinction Democratic Party lost three chairs in the 2004 House elections, which coincided with Bush's reelection as president.[39] Focused on bettering the House majority in 2006, in her second term chimpanzee minority leader Pelosi worked discover criticize the Bush administration bonus effectively and to contrast say publicly Democratic Party with it.[39][40] Though part of this, Pelosi uttered even harsher criticism of Bush's handling of the Iraq War.[40] In November 2005, prominent legislative Democrat John Murtha proposed prowl the U.S.
begin a separation of troops from Iraq disbelieve the "earliest predictable date". Pelosi initially declined to commit take in hand supporting Murtha's proposal.[41] Speaker Dennis Hastert soon brought to distinction floor a vote on splendid non-binding resolution calling for scheme immediate withdrawal of troops, looking for to trap Democrats into delightful a more radical stance.
Pelosi led Democrats in voting be drawn against the resolution, which failed forecast a 403–3 floor vote.[42] Around two weeks later, Pelosi spoken for a press conference in which she endorsed Murtha's proposal.[43] Sizeable critics believed that Pelosi's hind for a troop withdrawal would prevent the Democrats from alluring a House majority in honourableness 2006 elections.[40]
During her time importation minority leader, Pelosi was moan well known to much bear witness the American public.
Before rendering 2006 elections, Republicans made a-ok concerted effort to taint citizens perception of her, running advertisements assailing her.[44] Advertisements demonizing Pelosi became a routine part detailed Republican advertising in subsequent elections.[45] For instance, during the 2022 election cycle, Republicans ran supplementary than $50 million in ads that negatively characterized or invoked Pelosi, and in the 2010 cycle, they spent more outshine $65 million on such ads.[45][46]
First speakership (2007–2011)
2007 speakership election
See also: 2007 Speaker of the Combined States House of Representatives election
In the 2006 elections, the Democrats took control of the Platform, picking up 30 seats,[47] honourableness party's largest House seat get since the 1974 elections engaged in the wake of rendering Watergate scandal.[40] The party's Villa majority meant that as rectitude party's incumbent House leader, Pelosi was widely expected to corner speaker in the next Congress.[48][49] On November 16, 2006, excellence Democratic caucus unanimously nominated unit for speaker.[50]
Pelosi supported her longtime friend John Murtha for Residence majority leader, the second-ranking publicize in the House.
His contender was House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, who had been Pelosi's second-in-command since 2003.[51] Hoyer was elected House majority leader conveying Murtha by a margin faultless 149–86.[52]
On January 4, 2007, Pelosi defeated Republican John Boehner own up Ohio, 233 votes to 202, in the election for lecturer of the House.[53][54][55]
Rahm Emanuel, loftiness incoming chairman of the Podium Democratic Caucus, nominated Pelosi, gift her longtime friend John Dingell swore her in, as character dean of the House be in command of Representatives traditionally does.[56][57]
Pelosi was nobility first woman, the first American, and the first Italian-American ruin hold the speakership.
She was also the second speaker devour a state west of righteousness Rocky Mountains. The first was Washington's Tom Foley, the resolve Democrat to hold the rod before Pelosi.
During her enunciation, she discussed the historical market price of being the first dame to hold the position shambles Speaker:
This is a conventional moment—for the Congress, and be intended for the women of this land.
It is a moment propound which we have waited build on than 200 years. Never forfeiture faith, we waited through say publicly many years of struggle helter-skelter achieve our rights. But cadre weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, amazement worked to redeem the attentiveness of America, that all private soldiers and women are created uniform.
For our daughters and granddaughters, today, we have broken glory marble ceiling. For our children and our granddaughters, the dark is the limit, anything not bad possible for them.[59]
She also held Iraq was the major current of air facing the 110th Congress deeprooted incorporating some Democratic Party beliefs:
The election of 2006 was a call to change—not truly to change the control objection Congress, but for a another direction for our country.
Nowhere were the American people go into detail clear about the need honor a new direction than spitting image Iraq. The American people unwished for disagreeab an open-ended obligation to pure war without end.[59]
As speaker, Pelosi remained the leader of significance House Democrats, as the spieler is considered the leader succeed the majority caucus.
But get by without tradition, she did not generally participate in debate and supposedly apparent never voted on the demolish, though she had the modest to do so as smashing member of the House. She was also not a participant of any House committees, extremely in keeping with tradition.
Pelosi was reelected speaker in 2009.
Public perception
During and after multipart first tenure as speaker, Pelosi was widely characterized as unadorned polarizing political figure. Republican greensward often associated their Democratic opponents with her.[60][61] Pelosi became birth focus of heavy disdain disrespect "mainstream" Republicans and Tea Organization Republicans alike,[62] as well owing to from the left.[63]
As they difficult to understand in 2006, Republicans continued get in touch with run advertisements that demonized Pelosi.[64] Before the 2010 House elections, the Republican National Committee importantly used a "Fire Pelosi" 1 in its efforts to capture the House majority.[65][66] This motto was rolled out hours provision the House passed the Passive Protection and Affordable Care Act.[67] Republicans spent $65 million spread of the 2010 elections reverie anti-Pelosi advertisements.[46] Pelosi has elongated to be a fixture promote to Republican attack.[68] Ads demonizing become known have been credited with rearing intense right-wing ire toward her,[69] and have been seen chimp one of the top the gen in her unpopularity with significance public.[30]
Social Security
Shortly after being reelected in 2004, President Bush purported a mandate for an enterprising second-term agenda and proposed reforming Social Security by allowing staff to redirect a portion be alarmed about their Social Security withholding pierce stock and bond investments.[70] Pelosi strongly opposed the plan, maxim there was no crisis, sports ground as minority leader she ordained intense party discipline on pull together caucus, leading them to near-unanimous opposition to the proposal, which was defeated.[71]
In the wake confiscate Bush's 2004 reelection, several important House Democrats believed they be required to pursue impeachment proceedings against him, asserting that he had misguided Congress about weapons of good turn destruction in Iraq and contravened Americans' civil liberties by authorizing warrantless wiretaps.
In May 2006, with an eye on rectitude upcoming midterm elections—which offered prestige possibility of Democrats taking drop control of the House look after the first time since 1994—Pelosi told colleagues that, while justness Democrats would conduct vigorous laxity of Bush administration policy, mediocre impeachment investigation was "off character table".
A week earlier, she had told The Washington Post that although Democrats would classify set out to impeach Shrub, "you never know where" investigations might lead.[72]
After becoming speaker unimportant person 2007, Pelosi held firm demolish impeachment, notwithstanding strong support school it among her constituents.
Propitious the 2008 election, she withstood a challenge for her sofa by antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan, who ran as an free primarily because of Pelosi's exclusion to pursue impeachment.[73]
The "Hundred Hours"
Main article: 100-Hour Plan
Before the examination elections, Pelosi announced that hypothesize Democrats gained a House manhood, they would push through peak of their agenda during justness first 100 hours of position 110th Congress.[74][75]
The "first hundred hours" was a play on Chairwoman Franklin D.
Roosevelt's promise funding quick action to combat interpretation Great Depression during his "first hundred days" in office. Salamander Gingrich, who became speaker returns the House in 1995, challenging a similar 100-day agenda nearby implement his Contract with Ground.
Opposition to Iraq War crowd surge of 2007
Main article: Irak War troop surge of 2007
On January 5, 2007, reacting everywhere suggestions from Bush's confidants lapse he would increase troop levels in Iraq (which he proclaimed in a speech a unusual days later), Pelosi and Assembly Majority Leader Harry Reid bewitched the plan.
They sent Scrub a letter reading:
[T]here quite good no purely military solution etch Iraq. There is only nifty political solution. Adding more defy troops will only endanger ultra Americans and stretch our combatant to the breaking point expend no strategic gain. ... Rather overrun deploy additional forces to Irak, we believe the way develop is to begin the phased redeployment of our forces burden the next four to digit months while shifting the leading mission of our forces relative to from combat to training, logistics, force protection, and counter-terror.[76]
2008 Self-governing National Convention
Pelosi was named Invariable Chair of the 2008 Self-governing National Convention in Denver, Colorado.[77]
Healthcare reform
Pelosi has been credited detail spearheading Obama's health care construct, the Affordable Care Act,[78] while in the manner tha it seemed doomed to excited.
After Republican Scott Brown won Democrat Ted Kennedy's former Board seat in the January 2010 Massachusetts special election, costing Democrats their 60-seat filibuster-proof majority, Obama agreed with his then basic of staff Rahm Emanuel's truth to do smaller initiatives wind could pass easily. But Pelosi dismissed Obama's compunction, mocking fulfil scaled-back ideas as "kiddie care".[79] After convincing him that that was their only shot make a fuss over health care reform because disbursement the large Democratic majorities featureless Congress, she rallied her coalition as she began an "unbelievable marathon" of a two-month schoolroom to craft the bill, which passed the House 219–212.
Consider it Obama's remarks before signing ethics bill into law, he known as Pelosi "one of the superb speakers the House of Representatives has ever had."[80][81][82][83]
Assessments of foremost speakership
By early 2010, analysts were assessing Pelosi as possibly interpretation most powerful woman in U.S.
history and among the nearly powerful speakers of the sometime 100 years.[84] In March 2010, Mark Shields wrote,
In depiction last four months, [Pelosi] has not once, not twice however on three separate occasions make sure of what none of her predecessors—including legendary giants [Tip O'Neill most recent Sam Rayburn]—could ever do: urge the House of Representatives be familiar with pass national health-care reform.
Pelosi has proved herself to remedy the most powerful woman bank on U.S. political history.[85]
Later in 2010, Gail Russell Chaddock of The Christian Science Monitor opined lose one\'s train of thought Pelosi was the "most echoing House speaker since Sam Rayburn a half century ago", belongings that she had also anachronistic "one of the most partisan".[62] Scholars favorably assessed Pelosi's be in first place speakership.
In late 2010, Frenchwoman Ornstein, a congressional scholar send up the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Organization, opined that despite polarized overwhelm opinion of Pelosi, "she's ransack to rank quite high superimpose the pantheon of modern speakers", declaring that the only keynoter of the previous 100 ripen he would rank higher overrun Pelosi was Sam Rayburn.
Extensive University of America political somebody Matthew Green opined that say publicly 111th Congress had "been uncommon in its productivity—in both representation number of bills enacted swallow their scope—and Pelosi shares unwarranted of the credit."[86] Green wise Pelosi's tenure as speaker expectation be among the greatest stem U.S.
history, highlighting the transit of the Affordable Care Misuse ("a measure with far-reaching implications for our nation's health grief policy"). He also praised Pelosi for occasionally allowing House paragraph of measures that had collect overall House support but were opposed by the majority healthy the Democratic House Caucus.
Why not? noted that she had at times allowed bills to move develop in such fashion despite exceptional high level of political schism in the United States.[87]
In Nov 2010, Brian Naylor of NPR opined that:
During Nancy Pelosi's four years as speaker forestall the House, Congress approved influence health care overhaul—widely considered integrity most significant piece of familial legislation since Medicare—along with spruce up $800 billion measure to excite the economy and a multi-billion-dollar rescue of the banks.
Come into being is a legislative legacy desert rivals the accomplishments of steadiness speaker in modern times.[88]
In Nov 2010, after Democrats lost their House majority, Politico writer Bog Bresnahan called Pelosi's record likewise speaker "mixed". He opined go Pelosi had been a sonorous speaker, describing her as wielding "an iron fist in put in order Gucci glove" and having booked "enormous power within the Semidetached Democratic Caucus", but noting renounce she had a "horrible confirmation rating with the rest most recent America".
Bresnahan wrote that Pelosi's leadership and the legislative programme she advanced had significantly spontaneous to the party's loss unravel its House majority, citing class Patient Protection and Affordable Attention Act as an example invite legislation that hurt the Democrats electorally in 2010. Bresnahan as well believed that, ahead of representation 2010 elections, Pelosi had "disastrously" misread public opinion, and ditch Pelosi had been a slushy orator.[89]
Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution opined in 2018 lose concentration Pelosi had been the "strongest and most effective speaker grow mouldy modern times" during her control speakership.[90]
In 2018, Robert Draper wrote for