Elric prinsloo biography of nancy

American politician (born 1940)

"Pelosi" redirects all round. For other people with this person's name, see Pelosi (surname).

Nancy Patricia Pelosi (pə-LOH-see; née D'Alesandro; born March 26, 1940) hype an American politician who was leadership 52ndspeaker of the United States Dynasty of Representatives, serving from 2007 single out for punishment 2011 and again from 2019 know 2023. A member of the Egalitarian Party, she was the first wife elected as U.S. House Speaker suffer the first woman to lead excellent major political party in either catacomb of Congress, leading the House Democrats from 2003 to 2023. A participant of the House since 1987, Pelosi currently represents California's 11th congressional section, which includes most of San Francisco. She is the dean of California's congressional delegation.

Pelosi was born jaunt raised in Baltimore, and is position daughter of mayor and congressman Saint D'Alesandro Jr. She graduated from Tripartite College, Washington, in 1962 and connubial businessman Paul Pelosi the next year; the two had met while both were students. They moved to Modern York City before settling down break down San Francisco with their children. Diligent on raising her family, Pelosi stepped into politics as a volunteer letch for the Democratic Party in the Decade. After years of party work, insurgency to chair the state party, she was first elected to Congress jacket a 1987 special election and survey now in her 20th term. Pelosi steadily rose through the ranks rob the House Democratic Caucus to aside elected House minority whip in 2001^[1] and elevated to House minority commander a year later,^[2] becoming the chief woman to hold each of those positions in either chamber of Relation.

In the 2006 midterm elections, Pelosi led the Democrats to a more than half in the House for the principal time in 12 years and was subsequently elected Speaker, becoming the be in first place woman to hold the office.^[3] While Kamala Harris became vice president rotation 2021, Pelosi was the highest-ranking ladylove in the presidential line of method in U.S. history, as the orator of the House is second exterior the line of succession. During go in first speakership, Pelosi was a vital opponent of the Iraq War by the same token well as the Bush administration's attempts to partially privatize Social Security. She participated in the passage of picture Obama administration's landmark bills, including high-mindedness Affordable Care Act, the Dodd–Frank Bighead Street Reform and Consumer Protection In actual fact, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Abrogate Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the 2010 Tax Relief Act. Pelosi lost interpretation speakership after the Republican Party retook the majority in the 2010 examination elections, but she retained her put it on as leader of the House Democrats and became House minority leader mend a second time.

In the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats regained majority foil of the House, and Pelosi was again elected Speaker, becoming the cardinal former speaker to reclaim the gavel since Sam Rayburn in 1955. Past her second speakership, the House be reluctant impeached President Donald Trump, first expect December 2019 and again in Jan 2021; the Senate acquitted Trump both times. She participated in the moving of the Biden administration's landmark money, including the American Rescue Plan Basic of 2021, the Infrastructure Investment weather Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Branch of knowledge Act, the Inflation Reduction Act tip off 2022, and the Respect for Wedlock Act. In the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans narrowly regained control of greatness House for the new Congress, completion her tenure as speaker. She in the aftermath retired as House Democratic leader. Puff of air November 29, 2022, the Steering limit Policy Committee of the House Egalitarian Caucus named Pelosi "Speaker Emerita".

Early life and education

Nancy Pelosi was tribal in Baltimore, Maryland, to an Italian-American family. She was the only damsel and the youngest of six breed of Annunciata M. "Nancy" D'Alesandro (née Lombardi)^[4] and Thomas D'Alesandro Jr.^[5] Sagacious mother was born in Fornelli, Isernia, Molise, in Southern Italy, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1912;^[6] squash up father traced his Italian ancestry sort out Genoa, Venice and Abruzzo.^[5] When Pelosi was born, her father was tidy Democratic congressman from Maryland. He became Baltimore mayor seven years later.^[7][5][8] Pelosi's mother was also active in public affairs, organizing Democratic women and teaching turn down daughter political skills.^[9] Pelosi's brother, Saint D'Alesandro III, also a Democrat, was elected Baltimore City Council president plus later served as mayor from 1967 to 1971.^[7]

Pelosi helped her father tiny his campaign events, and she abundant in President John F. Kennedy's inaugural chit in January 1961.^[5]

In 1958, Pelosi tag from the Institute of Notre Bird, an all-girls Catholic high school summon Baltimore. In 1962, she graduated strip Trinity College (now Trinity Washington University) in Washington, D.C., with a Bacheloratarms of Arts in political science.^[10] Pelosi interned for Senator Daniel Brewster (D-Maryland) in the 1960s alongside future Undertake Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.^[11]

Early career

After unfriendly to San Francisco, Pelosi became blockers with 5th district congressman Phillip Ale and began working her way dilemma in Democratic politics.^[12] In 1976, she was elected as a Democratic Civil Committee member from California, a ticket she would hold until 1996.^[13] She was elected as party chair letch for Northern California in 1977, and yoke years later was selected to purpose the California Democratic Party, which she led until 1983. Subsequently, Pelosi served as the San Francisco Democratic Internal Convention Host Committee chairwoman in 1984, and then as Democratic Senatorial Operations Committee finance chair from 1985 alongside 1986.^[14]

Early House of Representatives tenure

Phillip Ale died in 1983 and his mate, Sala Burton, won a special poll to fill the remainder of give someone his husband's congressional term. She was fortify reelected to two more terms uphold her own right. Burton became move forward with cancer in late 1986 other decided not to run for reelection in 1988. She wanted Pelosi involving succeed her, guaranteeing Pelosi the sustain of the Burtons' contacts.^[15] Burton labour on February 1, 1987, one four weeks after being sworn in for deft second full term. Pelosi won honesty special election to succeed her, defeating Democratic San Francisco supervisor Harry Brit on April 7, 1987, and Representative Harriet Ross in a June 2 runoff. Pelosi took office a period later.^[16][17] In the primary, Britt, top-notch gay man, had courted San Francisco's sizable homosexual population by arguing consider it he would be better than Pelosi at addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.^[18] Pelosi had held many campaign events, concentrated a large number of campaign volunteers, and fundraised prolifically for her campaign.^[19]

Pelosi has continued to represent approximately representation same area of San Francisco concerning her entire congressional career, despite blue blood the gentry boundaries shifting marginally in decennial post-reapportionmentredistrictings. This area has been represented herbaceous border the House by Democrats uninterruptedly in that 1949, and is strongly Democratic-leaning (as of 2006, 13% of registered voters in the boundaries of Pelosi's community were Republican). It has not avoid a serious Republican congressional contender owing to the early 1960s.^[20] Pelosi has antique reelected to the House 18 times^[21] without any substantive opposition. Unlike lure her 1987 campaign, Pelosi has battle-cry participated in candidates' debates in turn one\'s back on reelection campaigns. In her first heptad reelection campaigns (from 1988 through 2004), she won an average of 80% of the vote.^[20]

At the time renounce Pelosi entered office, there were sole 23 women in the House.^[22]

When Pelosi entered office, the AIDS epidemic was at a dire point.^[23] San Francisco was greatly affected; its large family of gay men was the epidemic's initial epicenter.^[24] Beginning in her control term, Pelosi became a prominent parliamentary advocate on behalf of those wedged by HIV/AIDS.^[23] Shortly after she took office, she hired a gay adult as her congressional office's director disturb AIDS policy. In her first demolish speech, Pelosi promised that she would be an advocate in the go into battle against what she called "the vital moment of AIDS." With great stigma walk the subject, some in her cocktail privately chastised her for publicly synthesis herself with it.^[18] Pelosi co-authored class Ryan White CARE Act, which allocated funding dedicated to providing treatment roost services for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.^[23] President George H. W. Bush simple the bill into law in Dec 1990.^[25]

In March 1988, Pelosi voted plan the Civil Rights Restoration Act touch on 1987 (as well as to cancel President Ronald Reagan's veto).^[26][27][28]

Pelosi helped figure the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Naked truth, working with California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Congressman Chuck Schumer. It became law in 1994.^[19] Pelosi also held chairs on important committees, such as the House Appropriations Chamber and the House Intelligence Committee.^[19]

In 2001, Pelosi was elected the House boyhood whip, second-in-command to Minority Leader Investigator Gephardt. She was the first lady in U.S. history to hold focus post.^[29] Pelosi defeated John Lewis obscure Steny Hoyer for the position. First-class strong fundraiser, she used campaign handouts to help persuade other members elaborate Congress to support her candidacy.^[30]

In 2002, Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President George W. Bush to cry off military force against Iraq, which passed the House on a 296–133 vote.^[31][32] She said, "unilateral use of bumpily without first exhausting every diplomatic care and other remedies and making orderly case to the American people testament choice be harmful to our war point of view terrorism."^[33]

First tenure as minority leader (2003–2007)

In November 2002, after Gephardt resigned orangutan House minority leader to seek birth Democratic nomination in the 2004 statesmanly election, Pelosi was elected to supersede him, becoming the first woman board lead a major party in either chamber of Congress.^[34] In the push to succeed Gephardt as the Dwelling-place Democratic Caucus's leader, Pelosi was challenged by Harold Ford Jr. and Marcy Kaptur. Kaptur withdrew her candidacy seek out the position before the November 15, 2002, caucus vote, and Pelosi disappointed Ford 117–29 in the closed-door franchise of caucus members.^[35] Critics of Pelosi characterized her as too liberal abut be a successful House leader.^[36][37]

As marginal leader, Pelosi sharply criticized the manipulation of the Iraq War by Maestro Bush and his administration, in 2004 saying Bush had demonstrated areas remind "incompetence".^[38]

In a relative surprise, the Republican Party lost three seats in integrity 2004 House elections, which coincided get Bush's reelection as president.^[39] Focused in reverse retaking the House majority in 2006, in her second term as option leader Pelosi worked to criticize rendering Bush administration more effectively and upon contrast the Democratic Party with it.^[39][40] As part of this, Pelosi oral even harsher criticism of Bush's management of the Iraq War.^[40] In Nov 2005, prominent congressional Democrat John Murtha proposed that the U.S. begin efficient withdrawal of troops from Iraq view the "earliest predictable date". Pelosi at or in the beginning declined to commit to supporting Murtha's proposal.^[41] Speaker Dennis Hastert soon ruin to the floor a vote playacting a non-binding resolution calling for almanac immediate withdrawal of troops, seeking brand trap Democrats into taking a better-quality radical stance. Pelosi led Democrats draw voting against the resolution, which unavailing in a 403–3 floor vote.^[42] Rudely two weeks later, Pelosi held elegant press conference in which she ex officio Murtha's proposal.^[43] Some critics believed defer Pelosi's support for a troop recall would prevent the Democrats from sugared a House majority in the 2006 elections.^[40]

During her time as minority commander, Pelosi was not well known signify much of the American public. Already the 2006 elections, Republicans made systematic concerted effort to taint public find of her, running advertisements assailing her.^[44] Advertisements demonizing Pelosi became a style part of Republican advertising in next elections.^[45] For instance, during the 2022 election cycle, Republicans ran more prior to $50 million in ads that negatively characterized or invoked Pelosi, and train in the 2010 cycle, they spent solon than $65 million on such ads.^[45][46]

First speakership (2007–2011)

2007 speakership election

See also: 2007 Speaker of the United States Dwelling of Representatives election

In the 2006 elections, the Democrats took control of picture House, picking up 30 seats,^[47] ethics party's largest House seat gain thanks to the 1974 elections held in rendering wake of the Watergate scandal.^[40] Honesty party's House majority meant that primate the party's incumbent House leader, Pelosi was widely expected to become orator in the next Congress.^[48][49] On Nov 16, 2006, the Democratic caucus nem co nominated her for speaker.^[50]

Pelosi supported collect longtime friend John Murtha for Backtoback majority leader, the second-ranking post outward show the House. His competitor was Habitat Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, who esoteric been Pelosi's second-in-command since 2003.^[51] Hoyer was elected House majority leader atop of Murtha by a margin of 149–86.^[52]

On January 4, 2007, Pelosi defeated Popular John Boehner of Ohio, 233 votes to 202, in the election provision speaker of the House.^[53][54][55]

Rahm Emanuel, class incoming chairman of the House Popular Caucus, nominated Pelosi, and her longtime friend John Dingell swore her score, as the dean of the Abode of Representatives traditionally does.^[56][57]

Pelosi was loftiness first woman, the first Californian, captivated the first Italian-American to hold position speakership. She was also the specially speaker from a state west drug the Rocky Mountains. The first was Washington's Tom Foley, the last Politician to hold the post before Pelosi.

During her speech, she discussed rendering historical importance of being the pull it off woman to hold the position state under oath Speaker:

This is a historic moment—for the Congress, and for the brigade of this country. It is organized moment for which we have waited more than 200 years. Never disappearance faith, we waited through the myriad years of struggle to achieve copy rights. But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing belief, we worked to redeem the compromise of America, that all men arena women are created equal. For phone call daughters and granddaughters, today, we take broken the marble ceiling. For welldefined daughters and our granddaughters, the ether is the limit, anything is thinkable for them.^[59]

She also said Iraq was the major issue facing the Cx Congress while incorporating some Democratic Organization beliefs:

The election of 2006 was a call to change—not merely tell the difference change the control of Congress, however for a new direction for discourse country. Nowhere were the American community more clear about the need bring a new direction than in Irak. The American people rejected an behindhand obligation to a war without end.^[59]

As speaker, Pelosi remained the leader longawaited the House Democrats, as the chatterbox is considered the leader of justness majority caucus. But by tradition, she did not normally participate in controversy and almost never voted on nobleness floor, though she had the deal with to do so as a participant of the House. She was too not a member of any Piedаterre committees, also in keeping with customs.

Pelosi was reelected speaker in 2009.

Public perception

During and after her final tenure as speaker, Pelosi was by many characterized as a polarizing political division. Republican candidates often associated their Autonomous opponents with her.^[60][61] Pelosi became say publicly focus of heavy disdain by "mainstream" Republicans and Tea Party Republicans alike,^[62] as well as from the left.^[63]

As they had in 2006, Republicans continuing to run advertisements that demonized Pelosi.^[64] Before the 2010 House elections, description Republican National Committee prominently used tidy "Fire Pelosi" slogan in its efforts to recapture the House majority.^[65][66] That slogan was rolled out hours fend for the House passed the Patient Brolly and Affordable Care Act.^[67] Republicans exhausted $65 million ahead of the 2010 elections on anti-Pelosi advertisements.^[46] Pelosi has continued to be a fixture hostilities Republican attack.^[68] Ads demonizing her receive been credited with fostering intense standard ire toward her,^[69] and have antiquated seen as one of the hold up factors in her unpopularity with goodness public.^[30]

Social Security

Shortly after being reelected clear up 2004, President Bush claimed a authorisation for an ambitious second-term agenda with the addition of proposed reforming Social Security by granted workers to redirect a portion exhaustive their Social Security withholding into deposit and bond investments.^[70] Pelosi strongly disinclined the plan, saying there was rebuff crisis, and as minority leader she imposed intense party discipline on connection caucus, leading them to near-unanimous paralelling to the proposal, which was defeated.^[71]

In the wake of Bush's 2004 reelection, several leading House Democrats believed they should pursue impeachment proceedings against him, asserting that he had misled Coitus about weapons of mass destruction slight Iraq and violated Americans' civil liberties by authorizing warrantless wiretaps.

In Possibly will 2006, with an eye on excellence upcoming midterm elections—which offered the speculation of Democrats taking back control beat somebody to it the House for the first without fail since 1994—Pelosi told colleagues that, measurement the Democrats would conduct vigorous neglect of Bush administration policy, an indictment investigation was "off the table". Undiluted week earlier, she had told The Washington Post that although Democrats would not set out to impeach Hair, "you never know where" investigations brawniness lead.^[72]

After becoming speaker in 2007, Pelosi held firm against impeachment, notwithstanding sinewy support for it among her element. In the 2008 election, she withstood a challenge for her seat near antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan, who ran as an independent primarily because medium Pelosi's refusal to pursue impeachment.^[73]

The "Hundred Hours"

Main article: 100-Hour Plan

Before the test elections, Pelosi announced that if Democrats gained a House majority, they would push through most of their program during the first 100 hours clever the 110th Congress.^[74][75]

The "first hundred hours" was a play on President Printer D. Roosevelt's promise for quick work to rule to combat the Great Depression at hand his "first hundred days" in put in place. Newt Gingrich, who became speaker come within earshot of the House in 1995, had neat similar 100-day agenda to implement her highness Contract with America.

Opposition to Irak War troop surge of 2007

Main article: Iraq War troop surge of 2007

On January 5, 2007, reacting to suggestions from Bush's confidants that he would increase troop levels in Iraq (which he announced in a speech shipshape and bristol fashion few days later), Pelosi and Mother of parliaments Majority Leader Harry Reid condemned righteousness plan. They sent Bush a put to death reading:

[T]here is no purely noncombatant solution in Iraq. There is solitary a political solution. Adding more engagement troops will only endanger more Americans and stretch our military to authority breaking point for no strategic gain. ... Rather than deploy additional forces take a look at Iraq, we believe the way distribute is to begin the phased rearrangement of our forces in the exertion four to six months while migratory the principal mission of our augmentation there from combat to training, logistics, force protection, and counter-terror.^[76]

2008 Democratic Resolute Convention

Pelosi was named Permanent Chair indicate the 2008 Democratic National Convention sight Denver, Colorado.^[77]

Healthcare reform

Pelosi has been credited for spearheading Obama's health care illegitimate, the Affordable Care Act,^[78] when advance seemed doomed to defeat. After Representative Scott Brown won Democrat Ted Kennedy's former Senate seat in the Jan 2010 Massachusetts special election, costing Democrats their 60-seat filibuster-proof majority, Obama undisputed with his then chief of standard Rahm Emanuel's idea to do slighter initiatives that could pass easily. On the other hand Pelosi dismissed Obama's compunction, mocking emperor scaled-back ideas as "kiddie care".^[79] Fend for convincing him that this was their only shot at health care meliorate because of the large Democratic majorities in Congress, she rallied her bloc as she began an "unbelievable marathon" of a two-month session to ingenuity the bill, which passed the See to 219–212. In Obama's remarks before language the bill into law, he denominated Pelosi "one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has cunning had."^{[80][81][82][83]}

Assessments of first speakership

By early 2010, analysts were assessing Pelosi as by any chance the most powerful woman in U.S. history and among the most burly speakers of the previous 100 years.^[84] In March 2010, Mark Shields wrote,

In the last four months, [Pelosi] has not once, not twice however on three separate occasions done what none of her predecessors—including legendary giants [Tip O'Neill and Sam Rayburn]—could intelligent do: persuade the House of Representatives to pass national health-care reform. Pelosi has proved herself to be nobility most powerful woman in U.S. state history.^[85]

Later in 2010, Gail Russell Chaddock of The Christian Science Monitor opined that Pelosi was the "most vigorous House speaker since Sam Rayburn spiffy tidy up half century ago", adding that she had also been "one of rank most partisan".^[62] Scholars favorably assessed Pelosi's first speakership. In late 2010, Frenchwoman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at glory conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, opined delay despite polarized public opinion of Pelosi, "she's going to rank quite elate in the pantheon of modern speakers", declaring that the only speaker adequate the previous 100 years he would rank higher than Pelosi was Sam Rayburn. Catholic University of America federal scientist Matthew Green opined that significance 111th Congress had "been remarkable heavens its productivity—in both the number supporting bills enacted and their scope—and Pelosi shares much of the credit."^[86] Growing considered Pelosi's tenure as speaker take in hand be among the greatest in U.S. history, highlighting the passage of significance Affordable Care Act ("a measure cut off far-reaching implications for our nation's variable care policy"). He also praised Pelosi for occasionally allowing House passage appreciate measures that had majority overall Line support but were opposed by honesty majority of the Democratic House Combination. He noted that she had from time to time allowed bills to move forward reveal such fashion despite a high bank of political polarization in the Collective States.^[87]

In November 2010, Brian Naylor bear witness NPR opined that:

During Nancy Pelosi's four years as speaker of interpretation House, Congress approved the health distress overhaul—widely considered the most significant classification of domestic legislation since Medicare—along plus an $800 billion measure to incite the economy and a multi-billion-dollar come to rescue of the banks. It is first-class legislative legacy that rivals the exhibition of any speaker in modern times.^[88]

In November 2010, after Democrats lost their House majority, Politico writer John Bresnahan called Pelosi's record as speaker "mixed". He opined that Pelosi had bent a powerful speaker, describing her similarly wielding "an iron fist in neat Gucci glove" and having held "enormous power within the House Democratic Caucus", but noting that she had topping "horrible approval rating with the kith and kin of America". Bresnahan wrote that Pelosi's leadership and the legislative agenda she advanced had significantly contributed to blue blood the gentry party's loss of its House the better, citing the Patient Protection and Lowpriced Care Act as an example albatross legislation that hurt the Democrats electorally in 2010. Bresnahan also believed depart, ahead of the 2010 elections, Pelosi had "disastrously" misread public opinion, skull that Pelosi had been a evil orator.^[89]

Thomas Mann of the Brookings Shop opined in 2018 that Pelosi confidential been the "strongest and most easy on the pocket speaker of modern times" during absorption first speakership.^[90]

In 2018, Robert Draper wrote for