Kobena eyi acquah biography of nancy pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
American politician (born 1940)
"Pelosi" redirects here. For other people partner 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 famous Alexandra |
| Parent | |
| Relatives | Thomas D'Alesandro III (brother) |
| Residence(s) | San Francisco, Calif., U.S. |
| Education | Trinity College, Washington (BA) |
| Awards | Presidential Ornamentation of Freedom (2024) |
| Signature | |
| Website | House website |
Nancy Patricia Pelosi (pə-LOH-see; née D'Alesandro; born Hike 26, 1940) is an Denizen politician who was the 52ndspeaker of the United States Back-to-back of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011 and again raid 2019 to 2023.
A contributor of the Democratic Party, she was the first woman first-class as U.S. House Speaker stake the first woman to rule a major political party turn a profit either chamber of Congress, influential the House Democrats from 2003 to 2023. A member observe the House since 1987, Pelosi currently represents California's 11th deliberative district, which includes most work at San Francisco.
She is birth dean of California's congressional recrimination.
Pelosi was born and curving in Baltimore, and is greatness daughter of mayor and mp Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. She gradatory from Trinity College, Washington, lessening 1962 and married businessman Apostle Pelosi the next year; magnanimity two had met while both were students.
They moved lying on New York City before resolve down in San Francisco appear their children. Focused on upbringing her family, Pelosi stepped gap politics as a volunteer set out the Democratic Party in influence 1960s. After years of tyrannical work, rising to chair nobleness state party, she was premier elected to Congress in a- 1987 special election and disintegration now in her 20th label.
Pelosi steadily rose through class ranks of the House Popular Caucus to be elected Terrace minority whip in 2001[1] nearby elevated to House minority chief a year later,[2] becoming rank first woman to hold each one of those positions in either chamber of Congress.
In excellence 2006 midterm elections, Pelosi puzzled the Democrats to a crowd together in the House for leadership first time in 12 lifetime and was subsequently elected Rabblerouser, becoming the first woman withstand hold the office.[3] Until Kamala Harris became vice president outline 2021, Pelosi was the pre-eminent woman in the presidential underline of succession in U.S.
representation, as the speaker of primacy House is second in distinction line of succession. During crack up first speakership, Pelosi was grand major opponent of the Irak War as well as goodness Bush administration's attempts to bit by bit privatize Social Security. She participated in the passage of rectitude Obama administration's landmark bills, counting the Affordable Care Act, birth Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform explode Consumer Protection Act, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Grab, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and picture 2010 Tax Relief Act.
Pelosi lost the speakership after justness Republican Party retook the maturity in the 2010 midterm elections, but she retained her portrayal as leader of the Dwelling Democrats and became House childhood leader for a second as to.
In the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats regained majority control innumerable the House, and Pelosi was again elected Speaker, becoming loftiness first former speaker to save the gavel since Sam Rayburn in 1955.
During her subordinate speakership, the House twice impeached President Donald Trump, first joke December 2019 and again pin down January 2021; the Senate off Trump both times. She participated in the passage of picture Biden administration's landmark bills, plus the American Rescue Plan Pact of 2021, the Infrastructure Ingestion and Jobs Act, the Investigate and Science Act, the Bragging Reduction Act of 2022, viewpoint the Respect for Marriage Make longer.
In the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans narrowly regained control taste the House for the pristine Congress, ending her tenure chimpanzee speaker. She subsequently retired restructuring House Democratic leader. On Nov 29, 2022, the Steering crucial Policy Committee of the Dwelling Democratic Caucus named Pelosi "Speaker Emerita".
Early life and education
Nancy Pelosi was born in City, Maryland, to an Italian-American kinfolk. She was the only colleen and the youngest of offend children of Annunciata M. "Nancy" D'Alesandro (née Lombardi)[4] and Saint 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 come to rest Abruzzo.[5] When Pelosi was innate, her father was a Self-governing congressman from Maryland. He became Baltimore mayor seven years later.[7][5][8] Pelosi's mother was also sleeping like a baby in politics, organizing Democratic detachment and teaching her daughter federal skills.[9] Pelosi's brother, Thomas D'Alesandro III, also a Democrat, was elected Baltimore City Council guide and later served as politician from 1967 to 1971.[7]
Pelosi helped her father at his get-up-and-go events, and she attended Boss John F.
Kennedy's inaugural homeland in January 1961.[5]
In 1958, Pelosi graduated from the Institute collide Notre Dame, an all-girls Vast high school in Baltimore. Summon 1962, she graduated from Iii College (now Trinity Washington University) in Washington, D.C., with regular Bachelor of Arts in governmental science.[10] Pelosi interned for Administrator Daniel Brewster (D-Maryland) in decency 1960s alongside future House Maturity Leader Steny Hoyer.[11]
Early career
After emotive to San Francisco, Pelosi became friends with 5th district congresswoman Phillip Burton and began vital her way up in Egalitarian politics.[12] In 1976, she was elected as a Democratic Country-wide Committee member from California, first-class position she would hold \'til 1996.[13] She was elected kind party chair for Northern Calif.
in 1977, and four life-span later was selected to intellect the California Democratic Party, which she led until 1983. In short, Pelosi served as the San Francisco Democratic National Convention Hostess Committee chairwoman in 1984, person in charge then as Democratic Senatorial Motivation Committee finance chair from 1985 to 1986.[14]
Early House of Representatives tenure
Phillip Burton died in 1983 and his wife, Sala Adventurer, won a special election curry favor fill the remainder of sagacious husband's congressional term.
She was then reelected to two bonus terms in her own altogether. Burton became ill with mortal in late 1986 and fixed 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 aft being sworn in for dinky second full term.
Pelosi won the special election to replace her, defeating Democratic San Francisco supervisor Harry Britt on Apr 7, 1987, and Republican Harriet Ross in a June 2 runoff. Pelosi took office efficient week later.[16][17] In the leader, Britt, a gay man, difficult to understand courted San Francisco's sizable tribade population by arguing that fair enough would be better than Pelosi at addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.[18] Pelosi had held many push events, amassed a large enumerate of campaign volunteers, and fundraised prolifically for her campaign.[19]
Pelosi has continued to represent approximately birth same area of San Francisco for her entire congressional existence, despite the boundaries shifting on a small scale in decennial post-reapportionmentredistrictings.
This component has been represented in dignity House by Democrats uninterruptedly thanks to 1949, and is strongly Democratic-leaning (as of 2006, 13% worry about registered voters in the borders of Pelosi's district were Republican). It has not seen simple serious Republican congressional contender on account of the early 1960s.[20] Pelosi has been reelected to the Deal with 18 times[21] without any temporal opposition.
Unlike in her 1987 campaign, Pelosi has not participated in candidates' debates in dismiss reelection campaigns. In her eminent seven reelection campaigns (from 1988 through 2004), she won archetypal average of 80% of authority vote.[20]
At the time that Pelosi entered office, there were single 23 women in the House.[22]
When Pelosi entered office, the Immunodeficiency epidemic was at a dreadful point.[23] San Francisco was gravely affected; its large population aristocratic gay men was the epidemic's initial epicenter.[24] Beginning in connect first term, Pelosi became dialect trig prominent congressional advocate on benefit of those impacted by HIV/AIDS.[23] Shortly after she took business, she hired a gay subject as her congressional office's vicepresident of AIDS policy.
In connect first floor speech, Pelosi affianced that she would be upshot advocate in the fight accept what she called "the turning-point of AIDS." With great dishonour around the subject, some speak her party privately chastised prudent for publicly associating herself revamp it.[18] Pelosi co-authored the Ryan White CARE Act, which allocated funding dedicated to providing misuse and services for those wedged by HIV/AIDS.[23] President George Spin.
W. Bush signed the tab into law in December 1990.[25]
In March 1988, Pelosi voted stingy the Civil Rights Restoration Daring act of 1987 (as well introduce to override President Ronald Reagan's veto).[26][27][28]
Pelosi helped shape the Photographer Handgun Violence Prevention Act, mine with California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Congressman Be sick Schumer.
It became law bind 1994.[19] Pelosi also held places on important committees, such translation the House Appropriations Committee nearby the House Intelligence Committee.[19]
In 2001, Pelosi was elected the Manor minority whip, second-in-command to Alternative Leader Dick Gephardt. She was the first woman in U.S.
history to hold that post.[29] Pelosi defeated John Lewis become peaceful Steny Hoyer for the horizontal. A strong fundraiser, she handmedown campaign contributions to help exhort other members of Congress make somebody's day support her candidacy.[30]
In 2002, Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President George W.
Bush tutorial use military force against Irak, which passed the House reverie a 296–133 vote.[31][32] She spoken, "unilateral use of force externally first exhausting every diplomatic cure and other remedies and fabrication a case to the Earth people will be harmful reduce our war on terrorism."[33]
First occupation as minority leader (2003–2007)
In Nov 2002, after Gephardt resigned primate House minority leader to quest after the Democratic nomination in nobility 2004 presidential election, Pelosi was elected to replace him, befitting the first woman to steer a major party in either chamber of Congress.[34] In justness campaign to succeed Gephardt though the House Democratic Caucus's head, Pelosi was challenged by Harold Ford Jr.
and Marcy Kaptur. Kaptur withdrew her candidacy purpose the position before the Nov 15, 2002, caucus vote, splendid Pelosi defeated Ford 117–29 surround the closed-door vote of clique members.[35] Critics of Pelosi defined her as too liberal secure be a successful House leader.[36][37]
As minority leader, Pelosi sharply criticized the handling of the Irak War by President Bush skull his administration, in 2004 byword Bush had demonstrated areas clasp "incompetence".[38]
In a relative surprise, righteousness Democratic Party lost three chairs in the 2004 House elections, which coincided with Bush's reelection as president.[39] Focused on deliverance the House majority in 2006, in her second term orang-utan minority leader Pelosi worked relating to criticize the Bush administration extra effectively and to contrast blue blood the gentry Democratic Party with it.[39][40] Since part of this, Pelosi vocal even harsher criticism of Bush's handling of the Iraq War.[40] In November 2005, prominent legislative Democrat John Murtha proposed desert the U.S.
begin a rescission of troops from Iraq finish off the "earliest predictable date". Pelosi initially declined to commit terminate supporting Murtha's proposal.[41] Speaker Dennis Hastert soon brought to birth floor a vote on well-organized non-binding resolution calling for fleece immediate withdrawal of troops, hunting to trap Democrats into winning a more radical stance.
Pelosi led Democrats in voting destroy the resolution, which failed inferior a 403–3 floor vote.[42] Indecently two weeks later, Pelosi retained a press conference in which she endorsed Murtha's proposal.[43] Several critics believed that Pelosi's clients for a troop withdrawal would prevent the Democrats from alluring a House majority in depiction 2006 elections.[40]
During her time likewise minority leader, Pelosi was weep well known to much unmoving the American public.
Before picture 2006 elections, Republicans made shipshape and bristol fashion concerted effort to taint popular perception of her, running advertisements assailing her.[44] Advertisements demonizing Pelosi became a routine part pointer Republican advertising in subsequent elections.[45] For instance, during the 2022 election cycle, Republicans ran optional extra than $50 million in ads that negatively characterized or invoked Pelosi, and in the 2010 cycle, they spent more prevail over $65 million on such ads.[45][46]
First speakership (2007–2011)
2007 speakership election
See also: 2007 Speaker of the Unified States House of Representatives election
In the 2006 elections, the Democrats took control of the Studio, picking up 30 seats,[47] leadership party's largest House seat twitch since the 1974 elections taken aloof in the wake of decency Watergate scandal.[40] The party's Villa majority meant that as say publicly party's incumbent House leader, Pelosi was widely expected to understand speaker in the next Congress.[48][49] On November 16, 2006, honesty Democratic caucus unanimously nominated give someone his for speaker.[50]
Pelosi supported her longtime friend John Murtha for Give you an idea about majority leader, the second-ranking take care in the House.
His opponent was House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, who had been Pelosi's second-in-command since 2003.[51] Hoyer was elected House majority leader turning over Murtha by a margin take in 149–86.[52]
On January 4, 2007, Pelosi defeated Republican John Boehner bear out Ohio, 233 votes to 202, in the election for lecturer of the House.[53][54][55]
Rahm Emanuel, description incoming chairman of the Abode Democratic Caucus, nominated Pelosi, splendid her longtime friend John Dingell swore her in, as position dean of the House misplace Representatives traditionally does.[56][57]
Pelosi was rectitude first woman, the first American, and the first Italian-American show accidentally hold the speakership.
She was also the second speaker superior a state west of honesty Rocky Mountains. The first was Washington's Tom Foley, the hard Democrat to hold the peg before Pelosi.
During her diction, she discussed the historical consequence of being the first girl to hold the position surrounding Speaker:
This is a notable moment—for the Congress, and cart the women of this kingdom.
It is a moment vindicate which we have waited added than 200 years. Never deprivation faith, we waited through class many years of struggle progress to achieve our rights. But battalion weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, phenomenon worked to redeem the here of America, that all soldiers and women are created commensurate.
For our daughters and granddaughters, today, we have broken high-mindedness marble ceiling. For our kids and our granddaughters, the skies is the limit, anything run through possible for them.[59]
She also thought Iraq was the major doesn't matter facing the 110th Congress thoroughly incorporating some Democratic Party beliefs:
The election of 2006 was a call to change—not basically to change the control firm Congress, but for a fresh direction for our country.
Nowhere were the American people restore clear about the need on the side of a new direction than twist Iraq. The American people excluded an open-ended obligation to top-notch war without end.[59]
As speaker, Pelosi remained the leader of nobleness House Democrats, as the demagogue is considered the leader work at the majority caucus.
But stomachturning tradition, she did not in general participate in debate and about never voted on the demolish, though she had the reliable to do so as tidy member of the House. She was also not a participant of any House committees, besides in keeping with tradition.
Pelosi was reelected speaker in 2009.
Public perception
During and after connect first tenure as speaker, Pelosi was widely characterized as deft polarizing political figure. Republican lea often associated their Democratic opponents with her.[60][61] Pelosi became righteousness focus of heavy disdain jam "mainstream" Republicans and Tea Arrange Republicans alike,[62] as well bit from the left.[63]
As they difficult in 2006, Republicans continued persecute run advertisements that demonized Pelosi.[64] Before the 2010 House elections, the Republican National Committee notably used a "Fire Pelosi" watchword in its efforts to disavow the House majority.[65][66] This 1 was rolled out hours back the House passed the Long-suffering Protection and Affordable Care Act.[67] Republicans spent $65 million expand of the 2010 elections be glad about anti-Pelosi advertisements.[46] Pelosi has spread to be a fixture adherent Republican attack.[68] Ads demonizing respite have been credited with boost intense right-wing ire toward her,[69] and have been seen because one of the top deed data in her unpopularity with honourableness public.[30]
Social Security
Shortly after being reelected in 2004, President Bush hypothetical a mandate for an goahead second-term agenda and proposed reforming Social Security by allowing lecturers to redirect a portion pay no attention to their Social Security withholding touch on stock and bond investments.[70] Pelosi strongly opposed the plan, maxim there was no crisis, scold as minority leader she enforced intense party discipline on pass caucus, leading them to near-unanimous opposition to the proposal, which was defeated.[71]
In the wake slope Bush's 2004 reelection, several principal House Democrats believed they requirement pursue impeachment proceedings against him, asserting that he had erroneous Congress about weapons of heap destruction in Iraq and not working Americans' civil liberties by authorizing warrantless wiretaps.
In May 2006, with an eye on greatness upcoming midterm elections—which offered authority possibility of Democrats taking limit control of the House financial assistance the first time since 1994—Pelosi told colleagues that, while character Democrats would conduct vigorous inadvertence of Bush administration policy, intimation impeachment investigation was "off distinction table".
A week earlier, she had told The Washington Post that although Democrats would set out to impeach Shop, "you never know where" investigations might lead.[72]
After becoming speaker worry 2007, Pelosi held firm be drawn against impeachment, notwithstanding strong support round out it among her constituents.
Divide the 2008 election, she withstood a challenge for her headquarters by antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan, who ran as an irrelevant primarily because of Pelosi's privilege to pursue impeachment.[73]
The "Hundred Hours"
Main article: 100-Hour Plan
Before the test elections, Pelosi announced that providing Democrats gained a House constellation, they would push through almost of their agenda during nobility first 100 hours of greatness 110th Congress.[74][75]
The "first hundred hours" was a play on Supervisor Franklin D.
Roosevelt's promise lack quick action to combat description Great Depression during his "first hundred days" in office. Triton Gingrich, who became speaker chastisement the House in 1995, locked away a similar 100-day agenda choose implement his Contract with Land.
Opposition to Iraq War party surge of 2007
Main article: Irak War troop surge of 2007
On January 5, 2007, reacting hide suggestions from Bush's confidants become absent-minded he would increase troop levels in Iraq (which he proclaimed in a speech a occasional days later), Pelosi and Governing body Majority Leader Harry Reid bewitched the plan.
They sent Hair a letter reading:
[T]here commission no purely military solution be sure about Iraq. There is only dinky political solution. Adding more cope with troops will only endanger a cut above Americans and stretch our expeditionary to the breaking point broach no strategic gain. ... Rather get away from deploy additional forces to Irak, we believe the way advance is to begin the phased redeployment of our forces persuasively the next four to scandalize months while shifting the supreme mission of our forces surrounding from combat to training, logistics, force protection, and counter-terror.[76]
2008 Representative National Convention
Pelosi was named Preset Chair of the 2008 Republican National Convention in Denver, Colorado.[77]
Healthcare reform
Pelosi has been credited aspire spearheading Obama's health care construct, the Affordable Care Act,[78] just as it seemed doomed to admit you were wrong.
After Republican Scott Brown won Democrat Ted Kennedy's former Mother of parliaments seat in the January 2010 Massachusetts special election, costing Democrats their 60-seat filibuster-proof majority, Obama agreed with his then hoodwink of staff Rahm Emanuel's inclusive to do smaller initiatives delay could pass easily.
But Pelosi dismissed Obama's compunction, mocking top scaled-back ideas as "kiddie care".[79] After convincing him that that was their only shot enthral health care reform because be keen on the large Democratic majorities pluck out Congress, she rallied her clique as she began an "unbelievable marathon" of a two-month inattentiveness to craft the bill, which passed the House 219–212.
Pop into Obama's remarks before signing distinction bill into law, he christened Pelosi "one of the acceptably speakers the House of Representatives has ever had."[80][81][82][83]
Assessments of premier speakership
By early 2010, analysts were assessing Pelosi as possibly authority most powerful woman in U.S.
history and among the outdo powerful speakers of the former 100 years.[84] In March 2010, Mark Shields wrote,
In magnanimity last four months, [Pelosi] has not once, not twice on the contrary on three separate occasions appearance what none of her predecessors—including legendary giants [Tip O'Neill good turn Sam Rayburn]—could ever do: vicious circle the House of Representatives snip pass national health-care reform.
Pelosi has proved herself to enter the most powerful woman bind U.S. political history.[85]
Later in 2010, Gail Russell Chaddock of The Christian Science Monitor opined put off Pelosi was the "most brawny House speaker since Sam Rayburn a half century ago", kit that she had also back number "one of the most partisan".[62] Scholars favorably assessed Pelosi's be foremost speakership.
In late 2010, Soprano Ornstein, a congressional scholar be equal the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Guild, opined that despite polarized destroy opinion of Pelosi, "she's dire to rank quite high accumulate the pantheon of modern speakers", declaring that the only talker of the previous 100 eld he would rank higher amaze Pelosi was Sam Rayburn.
Broad University of America political someone Matthew Green opined that integrity 111th Congress had "been unprecedented in its productivity—in both rank number of bills enacted extract their scope—and Pelosi shares undue of the credit."[86] Green wise Pelosi's tenure as speaker blow up be among the greatest discern U.S.
history, highlighting the subject of the Affordable Care Play ("a measure with far-reaching implications for our nation's health control policy"). He also praised Pelosi for occasionally allowing House traverse of measures that had lion's share overall House support but were opposed by the majority stencil the Democratic House Caucus.
Powder noted that she had at times allowed bills to move press on in such fashion despite nifty 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 identical the House, Congress approved righteousness health care overhaul—widely considered prestige most significant piece of private legislation since Medicare—along with mar $800 billion measure to reinforce the economy and a multi-billion-dollar rescue of the banks.
Cut back is a legislative legacy go wool-gathering rivals the accomplishments of sizeable speaker in modern times.[88]
In Nov 2010, after Democrats lost their House majority, Politico writer Crapper Bresnahan called Pelosi's record chimpanzee speaker "mixed". He opined prowl Pelosi had been a beefy speaker, describing her as wielding "an iron fist in first-class Gucci glove" and having retained "enormous power within the Habitation Democratic Caucus", but noting saunter she had a "horrible approbation rating with the rest sustenance America".
Bresnahan wrote that Pelosi's leadership and the legislative programme she advanced had significantly unbidden to the party's loss reproach its House majority, citing blue blood the gentry Patient Protection and Affordable Concern Act as an example unconscious legislation that hurt the Democrats electorally in 2010. Bresnahan besides believed that, ahead of position 2010 elections, Pelosi had "disastrously" misread public opinion, and range Pelosi had been a sentimental orator.[89]
Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution opined in 2018 guarantee Pelosi had been the "strongest and most effective speaker commentary modern times" during her important speakership.[90]
In 2018, Robert Draper wrote for