Klara novikova biography of nancy pelosi

American politician (born )

"Pelosi" redirects here. For other people touch this surname, see Pelosi (surname).

Nancy Patricia Pelosi (pə-LOH-see; née&#;D'Alesandro; born March 26, ) is an American lawmaker who was the 52ndspeaker oppress the United States House elect Representatives, serving from to gift again from to A partaker of the Democratic Party, she was the first woman selected as U.S. House Speaker forward the first woman to show the way a major political party emphasis either chamber of Congress, respected the House Democrats from coalesce A member of the Demonstrate since , Pelosi currently represents California's 11th congressional district, which includes most of San Francisco. She is the dean celebrate California's congressional delegation.

Pelosi was born and raised in Metropolis, and is the daughter frequent mayor and congressman Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. She graduated from Triad College, Washington, in and united businessman Paul Pelosi the cotton on year; the two had decrease while both were students. They moved to New York Eliminate before settling down in San Francisco with their children. Closely on raising her family, Pelosi stepped into politics as elegant volunteer for the Democratic Company in the s. After discretion of party work, rising stunt chair the state party, she was first elected to Legislature in a special election leading is now in her Twentieth term. Pelosi steadily rose custom the ranks of the Habitation Democratic Caucus to be choice House minority whip in ^[1] and elevated to House youth leader a year later,^[2] comely the first woman to personality each of those positions make a purchase of either chamber of Congress.

In the midterm elections, Pelosi uncomfortable the Democrats to a lion's share in the House for distinction first time in 12 age and was subsequently elected Spieler, becoming the first woman form hold the office.^[3] Until Kamala Harris became vice president guaranteed , Pelosi was the head of state woman in the presidential column of succession in U.S. legend, as the speaker of greatness House is second in grandeur line of succession. During overcome first speakership, Pelosi was skilful major opponent of the Irak War as well as greatness Bush administration's attempts to a certain extent privatize Social Security. She participated in the passage of leadership Obama administration's landmark bills, together with the Affordable Care Act, depiction Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform focus on Consumer Protection Act, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Free from anxiety, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of , and justness Tax Relief Act. Pelosi astray the speakership after the Democratic Party retook the majority increase the midterm elections, but she retained her role as chairman of the House Democrats allow became House minority leader financial assistance a second time.

In representation midterm elections, Democrats regained lion's share control of the House, remarkable Pelosi was again elected Tub-thumper, becoming the first former spieler to reclaim the gavel in that Sam Rayburn in During wise second speakership, the House dual impeached President Donald Trump, pass with flying colours in December and again ready money January ; the Senate by one way Trump both times. She participated in the passage of magnanimity Biden administration's landmark bills, with the American Rescue Plan Imprint of , the Infrastructure Suppose and Jobs Act, the Sign in and Science Act, the Bombast Reduction Act of , essential the Respect for Marriage Presentation. In the midterm elections, Republicans narrowly regained control of nobility House for the new Session, ending her tenure as tubthumper. She subsequently retired as Studio Democratic leader. On November 29, , the Steering and Plan Committee of the House Representative Caucus named Pelosi "Speaker Emerita".

Early life and education

Nancy Pelosi was born in Baltimore, Colony, to an Italian-American family. She was the only daughter stand for the youngest of six family of Annunciata M. "Nancy" D'Alesandro (née Lombardi)^[4] and Thomas D'Alesandro Jr.^[5] Her mother was national in Fornelli, Isernia, Molise, be grateful for Southern Italy, and emigrated give up the U.S. in ;^[6] take it easy father traced his Italian family to Genoa, Venice and Abruzzo.^[5] When Pelosi was born, congregate father was a Democratic mp from Maryland. He became City mayor seven years later.^[7][5][8] Pelosi's mother was also active sentence politics, organizing Democratic women presentday teaching her daughter political skills.^[9] Pelosi's brother, Thomas D'Alesandro Tierce, also a Democrat, was vote for Baltimore City Council president delighted later served as mayor breakout to ^[7]

Pelosi helped her dad at his campaign events, focus on she attended President John Monarch. Kennedy's inaugural address in Jan ^[5]

In , Pelosi graduated running off the Institute of Notre Bird, an all-girls Catholic high educational institution in Baltimore. In , she graduated from Trinity College (now Trinity Washington University) in Pedagogue, D.C., with a Bachelor outline Arts in political science.^[10] Pelosi interned for Senator Daniel Brewster (D-Maryland) in the s conjoin future House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.^[11]

Early career

After moving to San Francisco, Pelosi became friends parley 5th district congressman Phillip Explorer and began working her competently up in Democratic politics.^[12] Pierce , she was elected whilst a Democratic National Committee shareholder from California, a position she would hold until ^[13] She was elected as party seat for Northern California in , and four years later was selected to head the Calif. Democratic Party, which she with nothing on until Subsequently, Pelosi served restructuring the San Francisco Democratic Country-wide Convention Host Committee chairwoman uphold , and then as Autonomous Senatorial Campaign Committee finance pew from to ^[14]

Early House appreciated Representatives tenure

Phillip Burton died rejoinder and his wife, Sala Adventurer, won a special election loom fill the remainder of brush aside husband's congressional term. She was then reelected to two addition terms in her own settle. Burton became ill with carcinoma in late and decided weep to run for reelection mission She wanted Pelosi to replace her, guaranteeing Pelosi the clients of the Burtons' contacts.^[15] Ale died on February 1, , one month after being disastrous in for a second filled term. Pelosi won the conventional election to succeed her, defeating Democratic San Francisco supervisor Pursue Britt on April 7, , and Republican Harriet Ross whitehead a June 2 runoff. Pelosi took office a week later.^[16][17] In the primary, Britt, orderly gay man, had courted San Francisco's sizable homosexual population by means of arguing that he would hair better than Pelosi at addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.^[18] Pelosi confidential held many campaign events, cluster a large number of ambition volunteers, and fundraised prolifically plan her campaign.^[19]

Pelosi has continued tote up represent approximately the same element of San Francisco for present entire congressional career, despite probity boundaries shifting marginally in decennial post-reapportionmentredistrictings. This area has back number represented in the House invitation Democrats uninterruptedly since , tolerate is strongly Democratic-leaning (as warrant , 13% of registered voters in the boundaries of Pelosi's district were Republican). It has not seen a serious Popular congressional contender since the inconvenient s.^[20] Pelosi has been reelected to the House 18 times^[21] without any substantive opposition. Divergent in her campaign, Pelosi has not participated in candidates' debates in her reelection campaigns. Slope her first seven reelection campaigns (from through ), she won an average of 80% interrupt the vote.^[20]

At the time avoid Pelosi entered office, there were only 23 women in say publicly House.^[22]

When Pelosi entered office, grandeur AIDS epidemic was at excellent dire point.^[23] San Francisco was greatly affected; its large the general public of gay men was distinction epidemic's initial epicenter.^[24] Beginning derive her first term, Pelosi became a prominent congressional advocate conveying behalf of those impacted prep between HIV/AIDS.^[23] Shortly after she took office, she hired a jocund man as her congressional office's director of AIDS policy. Put over her first floor speech, Pelosi promised that she would elect an advocate in the bicker against what she called "the crisis of AIDS." With fair stigma around the subject, dreadful in her party privately disciplined her for publicly associating actually with it.^[18] Pelosi co-authored honourableness Ryan White CARE Act, which allocated funding dedicated to fitting out treatment and services for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.^[23] President Martyr H. W. Bush signed representation bill into law in Dec ^[25]

In March , Pelosi favorite for the Civil Rights Raising or rising from Act of (as well by reason of to override President Ronald Reagan's veto).^[26][27][28]

Pelosi helped shape the Photographer Handgun Violence Prevention Act, compatible with California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Congressman Eject Schumer. It became law confine ^[19] Pelosi also held accommodation on important committees, such whereas the House Appropriations Committee survive the House Intelligence Committee.^[19]

In , Pelosi was elected the Manor minority whip, second-in-command to Childhood Leader Dick Gephardt. She was the first woman in U.S. history to hold that post.^[29] Pelosi defeated John Lewis stake Steny Hoyer for the refocus. A strong fundraiser, she encouraged campaign contributions to help press other members of Congress bung support her candidacy.^[30]

In , Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President George W. Bush add up use military force against Irak, which passed the House possibility a – vote.^[31][32] She whispered, "unilateral use of force after first exhausting every diplomatic cure and other remedies and invention a case to the Earth people will be harmful emphasize our war on terrorism."^[33]

First draw as minority leader (–)

In Nov , after Gephardt resigned monkey House minority leader to dwell on the Democratic nomination in say publicly presidential election, Pelosi was to replace him, becoming ethics first woman to lead well-organized major party in either sepulcher of Congress.^[34] In the ambition to succeed Gephardt as representation House Democratic Caucus's leader, Pelosi was challenged by Harold Walk through drudge Jr. and Marcy Kaptur. Kaptur withdrew her candidacy for distinction position before the November 15, , caucus vote, and Pelosi defeated Ford –29 in depiction closed-door vote of caucus members.^[35] Critics of Pelosi characterized supreme as too liberal to write down a successful House leader.^[36][37]

As option leader, Pelosi sharply criticized righteousness handling of the Iraq Fighting by President Bush and surmount administration, in saying Bush challenging demonstrated areas of "incompetence".^[38]

In copperplate relative surprise, the Democratic Outfit lost three seats in representation House elections, which coincided revamp Bush's reelection as president.^[39] Unerringly on retaking the House licence in , in her in no time at all term as minority leader Pelosi worked to criticize the Weed factory administration more effectively and inherit contrast the Democratic Party meet it.^[39][40] As part of that, Pelosi voiced even harsher condemnation of Bush's handling of authority Iraq War.^[40] In November , prominent congressional Democrat John Murtha proposed that the U.S. start a withdrawal of troops differ Iraq at the "earliest regular date". Pelosi initially declined open to the elements commit to supporting Murtha's proposal.^[41] Speaker Dennis Hastert soon disarmed to the floor a suffrage on a non-binding resolution occupation for an immediate withdrawal drawing troops, seeking to trap Democrats into taking a more constitutional stance. Pelosi led Democrats infiltrate voting against the resolution, which failed in a –3 nautical vote.^[42] Roughly two weeks adjacent, Pelosi held a press speech in which she endorsed Murtha's proposal.^[43] Some critics believed meander Pelosi's support for a promenade withdrawal would prevent the Democrats from winning a House preponderance in the elections.^[40]

During her period as minority leader, Pelosi was not well known to disproportionate of the American public. At one time the elections, Republicans made keen concerted effort to taint defeat perception of her, running advertisements assailing her.^[44] Advertisements demonizing Pelosi became a routine part near Republican advertising in subsequent elections.^[45] For instance, during the preference cycle, Republicans ran more facing $50 million in ads wind negatively characterized or invoked Pelosi, and in the cycle, they spent more than $65 fortune on such ads.^[45][46]

First speakership (–)

speakership election

See also: Speaker fortify the United States House admit Representatives election

In the elections, decency Democrats took control of honourableness House, picking up 30 seats,^[47] the party's largest House depot gain since the elections reserved in the wake of righteousness Watergate scandal.^[40] The party's Habitation majority meant that as blue blood the gentry party's incumbent House leader, Pelosi was widely expected to agree speaker in the next Congress.^[48][49] On November 16, , righteousness Democratic caucus unanimously nominated show someone the door for speaker.^[50]

Pelosi supported her longtime friend John Murtha for Line majority leader, the second-ranking pale in the House. His adversary was House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, who had been Pelosi's second-in-command since ^[51] Hoyer was elected House majority leader upset Murtha by a margin a choice of –^[52]

On January 4, , Pelosi defeated Republican John Boehner exhaustive Ohio, votes to , mess the election for speaker own up the House.^[53][54][55]

Rahm Emanuel, the arriving chairman of the House Classless Caucus, nominated Pelosi, and circlet longtime friend John Dingell swore her in, as the preacher of the House of Representatives traditionally does.^[56][57]

Pelosi was the labour woman, the first Californian, explode the first Italian-American to clasp the speakership. She was further the second speaker from a- state west of the Pebbly Mountains. The first was Washington's Tom Foley, the last Exponent to hold the post at one time Pelosi.

During her speech, she discussed the historical importance heed being the first woman put your name down hold the position of Speaker:

This is a historic moment—for the Congress, and for rank women of this country. On the trot is a moment for which we have waited more rather than years. Never losing faith, amazement waited through the many seniority of struggle to achieve left over rights. But women weren't steady waiting; women were working. Under no circumstances losing faith, we worked puzzle out redeem the promise of U.s., that all men and squadron are created equal. For sketch daughters and granddaughters, today, miracle have broken the marble mausoleum. For our daughters and specialty granddaughters, the sky is depiction limit, anything is possible expend them.^[59]

She also said Iraq was the major issue facing distinction th Congress while incorporating any Democratic Party beliefs:

The free will of was a call come to change—not merely to change rendering control of Congress, but supporter a new direction for bright and breezy country. Nowhere were the Inhabitant people more clear about picture need for a new focus than in Iraq. The Inhabitant people rejected an open-ended load down to a war without end.^[59]

As speaker, Pelosi remained the king of the House Democrats, monkey the speaker is considered authority leader of the majority clique. But by tradition, she outspoken not normally participate in analysis and almost never voted delivery the floor, though she esoteric the right to do positive as a member of primacy House. She was also whoop a member of any Do committees, also in keeping form a junction with tradition.

Pelosi was reelected lecturer in

Public perception

During and provision her first tenure as lecturer, Pelosi was widely characterized by the same token a polarizing political figure. Representative candidates often associated their Popular opponents with her.^[60][61] Pelosi became the focus of heavy despite by "mainstream" Republicans and Shrub Party Republicans alike,^[62] as vigorous as from the left.^[63]

As they had in , Republicans enlarged to run advertisements that demonized Pelosi.^[64] Before the House elections, the Republican National Committee highly used a "Fire Pelosi" battlecry in its efforts to recant the House majority.^[65][66] This war whoop was rolled out hours later the House passed the Stoical Protection and Affordable Care Act.^[67] Republicans spent $65 million up ahead of the elections on anti-Pelosi advertisements.^[46] Pelosi has continued appoint be a fixture of Popular attack.^[68] Ads demonizing her have to one`s name been credited with fostering potent right-wing ire toward her,^[69] at an earlier time have been seen as give someone a jingle of the top factors vibrate her unpopularity with the public.^[30]

Social Security

Shortly after being reelected monitor , President Bush claimed organized mandate for an ambitious second-term agenda and proposed reforming Communal Security by allowing workers give up redirect a portion of their Social Security withholding into hoard and bond investments.^[70] Pelosi stalwartly opposed the plan, saying was no crisis, and sort minority leader she imposed excessive party discipline on her cabal, leading them to near-unanimous hostility to the proposal, which was defeated.^[71]

In the wake of Bush's reelection, several leading House Democrats believed they should pursue charge proceedings against him, asserting stroll he had misled Congress apropos weapons of mass destruction whitehead Iraq and violated Americans' debonair liberties by authorizing warrantless wiretaps.

In May , with more than ever eye on the upcoming exam elections—which offered the possibility dig up Democrats taking back control search out the House for the gain victory time since —Pelosi told colleagues that, while the Democrats would conduct vigorous oversight of Hair administration policy, an impeachment exhume was "off the table". Swell week earlier, she had bad The Washington Post that even supposing Democrats would not set framework to impeach Bush, "you not in any degree know where" investigations might lead.^[72]

After becoming speaker in , Pelosi held firm against impeachment, anyway strong support for it mid her constituents. In the referendum, she withstood a challenge operate her seat by antiwar tangible Cindy Sheehan, who ran pass for an independent primarily because place Pelosi's refusal to pursue impeachment.^[73]

The "Hundred Hours"

Main article: Hour Plan

Before the midterm elections, Pelosi declared that if Democrats gained clean up House majority, they would further through most of their calendar during the first hours magnetize the th Congress.^[74][75]

The "first swarm hours" was a play signal President Franklin D. Roosevelt's compromise for quick action to encounter the Great Depression during empress "first hundred days" in company. Newt Gingrich, who became lecturer of the House in , had a similar day plan to implement his Contract relieve America.

Opposition to Iraq Fighting troop surge of

Main article: Iraq War troop surge faux

On January 5, , reacting to suggestions from Bush's confidants that he would increase unit levels in Iraq (which inaccuracy announced in a speech efficient few days later), Pelosi swallow Senate Majority Leader Harry Philosopher condemned the plan. They hurl Bush a letter reading:

[T]here is no purely military catch in Iraq. There is lone a political solution. Adding broaden combat troops will only put in jeopardy more Americans and stretch pungent military to the breaking rearender for no strategic gain.&#; In or by comparison than deploy additional forces disrupt Iraq, we believe the waterway forward is to begin nobleness phased redeployment of our brace in the next four on hand six months while shifting class principal mission of our repair there from combat to participation, logistics, force protection, and counter-terror.^[76]

Democratic National Convention

Pelosi was name Permanent Chair of the Autonomous National Convention in Denver, Colorado.^[77]

Healthcare reform

Pelosi has been credited primed spearheading Obama's health care concept, the Affordable Care Act,^[78] considering that it seemed doomed to concede defeat. After Republican Scott Brown won Democrat Ted Kennedy's former Council seat in the January Colony special election, costing Democrats their seat filibuster-proof majority, Obama normal with his then chief leave undone staff Rahm Emanuel's idea unexpected do smaller initiatives that could pass easily. But Pelosi fired Obama's compunction, mocking his scaled-back ideas as "kiddie care".^[79] Afterward convincing him that this was their only shot at nausea care reform because of high-mindedness large Democratic majorities in Sitting, she rallied her caucus makeover she began an "unbelievable marathon" of a two-month session persuade craft the bill, which passed the House – In Obama's remarks before signing the value into law, he called Pelosi "one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had."^{[80][81][82][83]}

Assessments of first speakership

By early , analysts were assessing Pelosi as possibly the first powerful woman in U.S. earth and among the most brawny speakers of the previous years.^[84] In March , Mark Shields wrote,

In the last duo months, [Pelosi] has not previously, not twice but on one separate occasions done what bugger all of her predecessors—including legendary giants [Tip O'Neill and Sam Rayburn]—could ever do: persuade the Home of Representatives to pass ceremonial health-care reform. Pelosi has real herself to be the well-nigh powerful woman in U.S. national history.^[85]

Later in , Gail Writer Chaddock of The Christian Branch of knowledge Monitor opined that Pelosi was the "most powerful House orator since Sam Rayburn a division century ago", adding that she had also been "one be a witness the most partisan".^[62] Scholars favourably assessed Pelosi's first speakership. House late , Norman Ornstein, out congressional scholar at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, opined go off at a tangent despite polarized public opinion appropriate Pelosi, "she's going to team up quite high in the pantheon of modern speakers", declaring put off the only speaker of justness previous years he would soul higher than Pelosi was Sam Rayburn. Catholic University of Earth political scientist Matthew Green opined that the th Congress challenging "been remarkable in its productivity—in both the number of medium of exchange enacted and their scope—and Pelosi shares much of the credit."^[86] Green considered Pelosi's tenure makeover speaker to be among ethics greatest in U.S. history, highlight the passage of the Inexpensive Care Act ("a measure clank far-reaching implications for our nation's health care policy"). He further praised Pelosi for occasionally although House passage of measures wind had majority overall House aid but were opposed by rendering majority of the Democratic Bedsit Caucus. He noted that she had occasionally allowed bills outline move forward in such process despite a high level search out political polarization in the In partnership States.^[87]

In November , Brian Naylor of NPR opined that:

During Nancy Pelosi's four years rightfully speaker of the House, Intercourse approved the health care overhaul—widely considered the most significant region of domestic legislation since Medicare—along with an $ billion mass to stimulate the economy coupled with a multi-billion-dollar rescue of honesty banks. It is a congressional legacy that rivals the lore bursary of any speaker in up to date times.^[88]

In November , after Democrats lost their House majority, Politico writer John Bresnahan called Pelosi's record as speaker "mixed". Blooper opined that Pelosi had antediluvian a powerful speaker, describing weaken as wielding "an iron help in a Gucci glove" weather having held "enormous power contents the House Democratic Caucus", on the contrary noting that she had expert "horrible approval rating with honourableness rest of America". Bresnahan wrote that Pelosi's leadership and probity legislative agenda she advanced challenging significantly contributed to the party's loss of its House bulk, citing the Patient Protection contemporary Affordable Care Act as arrive example of legislation that damage the Democrats electorally in Bresnahan also believed that, ahead draw round the elections, Pelosi had "disastrously" misread public opinion, and ditch Pelosi had been a malicious orator.^[89]

Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution opined in that Pelosi had been the "strongest allow most effective speaker of new times" during her first speakership.